title: Evaluation of a social pediatrics elective: transforming students' perspective through reflection.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to examine aspects of a social pediatrics elective that led to student self-reflection and transformation.
  
  
  METHODS
  To assess student learning from our social pediatric elective, we retrospectively evaluated self-reflection papers. We focused on the effectiveness of the educational approach to inspire students to incorporate the social determinants of health into their practice. Furthermore, in each reflection paper, we looked for evidence of different phases of transformation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The social determinants of health were the most commonly described theme. Poverty was mentioned directly or described implicitly in almost all papers. For many students, seeing the social context of patients in real life, whether in a special clinic or at a home visit, was a disturbing and disorienting experience that triggered transformation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of reflection papers in the evaluation of a social pediatric elective documented transformative learning.
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Paediatrics, University of Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Meta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: van den Heuvel
authors.forename: Hosanna
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Au
authors.forename: Leo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Levin
authors.forename: Stacey
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bernstein
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ford-Jones
authors.forename: Maria Athina Tina
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Martimianakis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003479:Curriculum; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000193:education*; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011203:Poverty; D012647:Self-Assessment; D064890:Social Determinants of Health; D013337:Students, Medical; D035862:Vulnerable Populations; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: pediatric student education; social determinants of health; social pediatrics