Development of an interdisciplinary pre-matriculation program designed to promote medical students' self efficacy.
OBJECTIVE
A four-week interdisciplinary pre-matriculation program for Native American and rural medical students was created and its impact on students' transition to medical school was assessed. The program extends the goals of many pre-matriculation programs by aiming to increase not only students' understanding of basic science knowledge, but also to build student self-efficacy through practice with medical school curricular elements while developing their academic support networks.


METHODS
A mixed method evaluation was used to determine whether the goals of the program were achieved (n = 22). Student knowledge gains and retention of the microbiology content were assessed using a microbiology concept inventory. Students participated in focus groups to identify the benefits of participating in the program as well as the key components of the program that benefitted the students.


RESULTS
Program participants showed retention of microbiology content and increased confidence about the overall medical school experience after participating in the summer program.


CONCLUSIONS
By nurturing self-efficacy, participation in a pre-matriculation program supported medical students from Native American and rural backgrounds during their transition to medical school.


BACKGROUND
CAIMH: Center of American Indian and Minority Health; MCAT: Medical College Admission Test; PBL: Problem based learning; UM MSD: University of Minnesota Medical School Duluth.
a Department of Biomedical Sciences , University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth Campus , Duluth , MN , USA.
Anna Wirta
AW
Kosobuski
b University of Minnesota, Duluth , MN , USA.
Abigail
A
Whitney
a Department of Biomedical Sciences , University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth Campus , Duluth , MN , USA.
Andrew
A
Skildum
a Department of Biomedical Sciences , University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth Campus , Duluth , MN , USA.
Amy
A
Prunuske
D000328:Adult; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D058025:Interdisciplinary Studies; D008297:Male; D008913:Minority Groups / Q000523:psychology*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D019035:Rural Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration; D012424:Rural Population; D020377:Self Efficacy; D014481:United States; D016549:United States Indian Health Service / Q000458:organization & administration; D055815:Young Adult
Native American; Under-represented students; microbiology; pre-matriculation; rural