A health education program for underserved community youth led by health professions students.
OBJECTIVE
To develop and implement a health fair and educational sessions for elementary school children led by health professions students.


METHODS
The structure and process were developed with elementary school administration to determine the health topics to be covered. Students and faculty members created a "hands-on," youth-oriented health fair and interactive health educational sessions. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected on learning outcomes from the underserved child population and health professions students.


RESULTS
The health fair and educational sessions increased awareness of underserved youth in the areas of critical health behaviors, purposeful education on health issues facing their community, and exposure to careers in various health professions. The activities provided meaningful learning experiences for the health professions students.


CONCLUSIONS
The health education program model is an excellent way to teach health education, communication and critical thinking skills, and service learning to health professions students.
Begley
Kimberley
K
Creighton University School of Pharmacy and Health Professions, 2500 California Plaza, HLSB#175. Omaha, NE 68178, USA. kimbegley@creighton.edu
Haddad
Ann Ryan
AR
Christensen
Carla
C
Lust
Elaine
E
D002321:Career Choice; D002648:Child; D003142:Communication; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004517:Education, Professional / Q000458:organization & administration; D005178:Faculty; D006277:Health Fairs / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006281:Health Occupations / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D007857:Leadership; D008507:Medically Underserved Area; D017145:Models, Educational; D009329:Nebraska; D018794:Problem-Based Learning; D011361:Professional Competence; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D019035:Rural Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D013336:Students, Health Occupations