title: The effect of involvement in a student-run free clinic project on attitudes toward the underserved and interest in primary care.
abstract: METHODS
  The authors designed a survey instrument to examine the effect of involvement in a student-run free clinic project (SRFCP) on medical student self-reported attitudes toward the underserved and interest in primary care. From 2001-2010, first-and second-year medical students in an introductory service-learning elective course rated each of 15 statements on a seven-point Likert scale pre/post survey. Wilcoxon's signed rank test was performed on all matched pairs and an intent-to-treat analysis included unmatched pairs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The response rate was 97.9%, with 914 of 934 students enrolled participating. Significant increases were seen in each of the 15 items in matched pre/post survey pairs, N = 433 (47.4%), or with an intent-to-treat analysis, N = 914 (p ≤ .002 for all).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study found that medical student involvement in a SRFCP improved student knowledge, skills, attitudes and self-efficacy with the underserved, interest in work with the underserved after graduation, and interest in primary care.
authors.forename: Sunny D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Ryan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Michelle L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Loki
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Natarajan
authors.forename: Ellen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Beck
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002140:California; D002321:Career Choice; D004645:Empathy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011320:Primary Health Care; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017664:Uncompensated Care; D035862:Vulnerable Populations; D055815:Young Adult