What impact does teaching in outreach activities have on medical students' own learning and teaching skills? A pilot study

Abstract

Widening Participation outreach activities in United Kingdom medical schools aim to build aspirations and support progression to medicine for those from under-represented groups. Medical student ambassadors (SAs) deliver much of the outreach work, but there is a paucity of literature to show evidence that it benefits their own studies. This quick glance, mixed methods questionnaire study aimed to elicit the perceived benefits for SAs in terms of improving knowledge, skills and attitudes in their course. 14 SAs in two medical schools completed the anonymised online questionnaire. They reported that the work improved their own learning, with increased knowledge in different subject areas, as well as improved their teaching skills and self-confidence. The authors plan to follow up these findings with a mixed method, multi-centre study to look for objective improvement in assessments for SAs.