Association of a Health Equity Curriculum With Medical Students’ Knowledge of Social Determinants of Health and Confidence in Working With Underserved Populations

Abstract
The social determinants of health (SDH)—the conditions in which people are born, work, live, and age—have a profound effect on morbidity and mortality.1 National organizations have emphasized that medical schools should teach trainees about the SDH and their effect on health disparities.2-5 Disruptions related to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and social unrest in the US have brought additional stressors and amplified underlying inequalities in educational and health systems. Thus, it is imperative that medical schools increase commitment and investment in teaching students about SDH and health equity, and medical school education can have an influence in reducing health disparities.6,7 Prior studies have found that students who attend medical schools that include health equity curricula are more likely to practice in underserved communities.8-10