DREAM: Empowering Preclinical Medical Students With Labor Support Skills in South Georgia
Start Date
4-5-2022 1:00 PM
End Date
4-5-2022 4:00 PM
Description
INTRODUCTION: Studies have shown that labor support can help reduce labor-related health disparities and birth outcomes. However, many rural and underserved communities experience a lack of labor support coverage due to limited resources and personnel. In addition, rural women in Georgia experience a significantly higher maternal risk than their urban counterparts. The Delivery Resources, Experiences, and Advocacy for Moms (DREAM) program creates a pragmatic approach to increase the accessibility to labor support by training preclinical students to provide prenatal and postpartum support as osteopathic medical students complete their preclinical training. This additional training should, in return, deepen confidence levels within communication and advocacy skills for preclinical students while also providing support to the community. OBJECTIVES: The primary aim of this study is to scale the previously used DREAM project to be utilized and implemented in the South Georgia region. The implementation of this project will help increase the foundational knowledge and understanding of the critical value of non-clinical support during pregnancy, birth, and in the postpartum period. Additionally, this project will build the necessary skills needed of preclinical students for the overall benefit of the South Georgia region. METHODS: Fall of 2022, 16 medical students, including 1st and 2nd years, will be selected to become a part of the DREAM program. These students will complete 5 hours of training which entails labor support skills, prenatal visits, pushing and active labor, and breastfeeding education. Both patient participants and students will be required to take a pre and post-survey about the experience. RESULTS: Some of the key factors to our success are the partnerships and rapport we are building within the community, organizations, and local clinics such as Hope House. CONCLUSION: This study is still in progress as this research proposal is set to take place during the fall semester of 2022.
Embargo Period
5-31-2022
DREAM: Empowering Preclinical Medical Students With Labor Support Skills in South Georgia
INTRODUCTION: Studies have shown that labor support can help reduce labor-related health disparities and birth outcomes. However, many rural and underserved communities experience a lack of labor support coverage due to limited resources and personnel. In addition, rural women in Georgia experience a significantly higher maternal risk than their urban counterparts. The Delivery Resources, Experiences, and Advocacy for Moms (DREAM) program creates a pragmatic approach to increase the accessibility to labor support by training preclinical students to provide prenatal and postpartum support as osteopathic medical students complete their preclinical training. This additional training should, in return, deepen confidence levels within communication and advocacy skills for preclinical students while also providing support to the community. OBJECTIVES: The primary aim of this study is to scale the previously used DREAM project to be utilized and implemented in the South Georgia region. The implementation of this project will help increase the foundational knowledge and understanding of the critical value of non-clinical support during pregnancy, birth, and in the postpartum period. Additionally, this project will build the necessary skills needed of preclinical students for the overall benefit of the South Georgia region. METHODS: Fall of 2022, 16 medical students, including 1st and 2nd years, will be selected to become a part of the DREAM program. These students will complete 5 hours of training which entails labor support skills, prenatal visits, pushing and active labor, and breastfeeding education. Both patient participants and students will be required to take a pre and post-survey about the experience. RESULTS: Some of the key factors to our success are the partnerships and rapport we are building within the community, organizations, and local clinics such as Hope House. CONCLUSION: This study is still in progress as this research proposal is set to take place during the fall semester of 2022.