Medical students assisted health checkup and focused health education – An integration of community and family medicine

Objective: The objective of the study was to integrate family medicine practice with the theme of school health service, nutrition and communication skills in the year 4 MBBS curriculum at Shifa College of Medicine, Islamabad. Methodology: Health checkup of students aged 5-15 years, in a private school Mashal Model School, Nurpur Shahan, Islamabad was carried out by a family physician assisted by 100 medical students of Year 4, undergoing Community and Family Medicine clerkship at Shifa College of Medicine, Islamabad. School children were given health education in their identified health problem. Medical students’ views regarding the activity were recorded through focused group discussion. Results: Each medical student got the opportunity to assist health checkup along with educating them on their health issue in an interactive group discussion for five minutes. Mean score of the impact of this activity on their career was found to be 7.55±1.04 while the impact of this activity in their role as a health provider was found to be 7.64±1.12. Different themes were generated from the focused group discussion. Conclusion: Themes of school health service, nutrition and communication skills can be successfully integrated in the undergraduate teaching of community and family medicine. Medical students by assisting the generalist practice in the school environment can learn communication skills, thus moving towards social responsibility.