Proceedings of the 8th World Conference on Future of Education
Year: 2024
DOI:
[PDF]
Social Values in Undergraduate Medical Education: A Systematic Review
Dr. Bibi Sumera Keenoo
ABSTRACT:
Introduction: The evolving landscape of medical education recognises the crucial role social factors play in health outcomes. Incorporating social sciences and humanities into medical curricula is essential for developing culturally competent and ethically grounded healthcare professionals. This systematic review examines the integration of social values into undergraduate medical education and its impact on student competencies and healthcare delivery.
Objectives: This review meticulously evaluates the current methods for integrating a diverse range of social values, such as empathy, cultural sensitivity, and ethical decision-making, into medical education. It assesses their impact on student competencies, identifies challenges in implementation, and discusses broader implications for healthcare delivery.
Methodology: This review, conducted in strict adherence to PRISMA guidelines, includes studies published from January 2000 to December 2023, focusing on undergraduate medical education and the integration of social values. The comprehensive search across databases including PubMed, MEDLINE, ERIC, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and JSTOR, was followed by a meticulous selection process, as evidenced by the PRISMA flow diagram, ensuring the inclusion of only high-quality studies.
Results: Out of 300 articles, 30 studies met the inclusion criteria. These studies demonstrated significant improvements in student competencies such as empathy, ethical decision-making, and cultural competence. However, challenges like faculty resistance and curriculum congestion were notable. The synthesis of results indicates that integrating social values positively impacts student competencies and prepares them for diverse healthcare environments.
Conclusion: Integrating social values into undergraduate medical education is essential for developing empathetic, ethically aware, and culturally competent healthcare professionals.
Despite challenges, the positive impact on student competencies and broader healthcare implications affirms the value of these educational reforms. Future research should focus on longitudinal impacts and advanced technological interventions to enhance training and overcome existing barriers.
keywords: Social values, Medical Education, Undergraduate curriculum, Cultural competence, Curriculum integration, Social determinants of health, Healthcare delivery, Medical humanities