Research Mentor Name
Anupama Devara
Research Mentor Email Address
adevara@med.wayne.edu
Institution / Department
Wayne State University School of Medicine
Document Type
Research Abstract
Research Type
healthcommunityimpact
Graduate Level Research
no
Abstract
Background:
Public trust in vaccines has plummeted. Physicians serve as trusted voices in their communities, so they should be trained to communicate vaccine science effectively. Tailored communication training can help medical students develop adaptable skills for diverse clinical situations. Vaccine inaccessibility in conflict-affected regions differs from vaccine hesitancy in the Global North. This study examines the impact of medical communication education on medical students’ understanding of immunization challenges in conflict zones and their readiness to communicate confidently with patients domestically.
Methods:
A medical communication curriculum was modeled on the impact of missed vaccinations in underserved communities. The curriculum included one in-person didactic session during which first- and second-year medical students worked together to identify barriers to immunization in Detroit. At the end of the presentation, students created infographics promoting vaccination. Students completed a pre- (N=23) and post- (N=25) curriculum survey assessing immunization knowledge, confidence, and attitudes. Data was analyzed in StatsKingdom.com using R and paired-samples t-tests.
Results:
Students reported greater understanding of the impact of armed conflict on childhood vaccination rates and communicating health topics to the public. They also reported increased knowledge of the leading causes of death in the Global South from vaccine-preventable diseases. 16 students strongly agreed that the session improved their ability to communicate the importance of immunizations.
Conclusion:
These findings underscore the importance of early medical communication training. Integrating communication workshops throughout medical training can prepare medical students to foster informative patient interactions and improve public perception of vaccination impact.
Disciplines
Medicine and Health Sciences
Recommended Citation
Kyagaba, Ivan; Rosenfeld, Sydni B.; Kotakondla, Shridula; Okeke, Sarah M.; Pacheco Martinez, Maria F.; Zahriyeh, Muhammed; Santoyo, Danielle J.; Illahi, Atta; Mendez, Jennifer; Devara, Anupama; and Ruprecht, Michal T., "Vaccine communication through a global and local health lens" (2026). Medical Student Research Symposium. 512.
https://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/som_srs/512