Teaching Social Determinants of Health in Nursing Programs

Abstract

Background: Incorporating social determinants of health (SDoH) into clinical decision-making can clarify disease causes, enhance care planning, and improve health outcomes. Nurse educators should know which strategies are most effective for teaching SDoH in bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) programs. Objective: This integrative review synthesizes the literature on familiarizing BSN students with SDoH and identifies effective teaching interventions for SDoH in these programs. Methods: The researchers searched CINAHL, PubMed, Web of Science, and ERIC databases, and 21 articles met the inclusion criteria. The PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analysis) guidelines were followed for reporting. Results: The curriculum method, service learning, and international outreach experiences were frequently used teaching strategies. Qualitative evaluation was used to evaluate student outcomes. Conclusions: Nurse educators should be mindful of these strategies. Interdisciplinary teamwork can bolster students' understanding of disadvantaged populations while integrating SDoH in nursing curricula. Quantitative evaluations of learning outcomes are needed to determine teaching effectiveness.