A first-year community-based service learning elective: design, implementation, and reflection.
BACKGROUND
Medical schools have increasingly begun to incorporate service learning practices into their curricula.


METHODS
As part of a community-based service learning elective, 7 first-year medical students designed and implemented a health behavior education program for residents of a women's substance abuse recovery facility. The resulting program, Start Small, Feel Better, emphasized setting and accomplishing small goals to promote healthy lifestyle modifications.


RESULTS
We present personal reflections from the students, impressions of the participants, and qualitative data on the short-term effects of this intervention.


CONCLUSIONS
Start Small, Feel Better represents a model of how a service learning project could be put into practice and positively impact both medical students and the broader community.
Averill
Nathan J
NJ
University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, Kentucky 40536-0298, USA. njaver2@uky.edu
Sallee
John M
JM
Robinson
Jennifer T
JT
McFarlin
Jessica M
JM
Montgomery
Ashley A
AA
Burkhardt
Gretchen A
GA
Schulz-Burton
Morgan D
MD
Elam
Carol L
CL
D018672:Community Health Planning; D003159:Community-Institutional Relations; D003479:Curriculum; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate / Q000379:methods* / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D007629:Kentucky; D018794:Problem-Based Learning; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012577:Schools, Medical