Evaluation of a French health action-training program by its stakeholders; healthcare students and host institution

Abstract

Background: Mandatory "sanitary service" is an inter-disciplinary health promotion program that ensures inclusion of action training in the curriculum of French students in healthcare professions. Its evaluation is important to identify areas for improvement.

Objectives: The objective was to evaluate the satisfaction of the actors with the general perception of the program and with its three different phases: e-learning, practical training, and interventions.

Design: Retrospective, single-center study based on two self-report questionnaires completed by students and host institutions in 2021-2022.

Participants: Students in healthcare (medicine, pharmacy, odontology, midwifery, physical therapy and nursing) from a French university.

Methods: We calculated and compared scores based on closed-ended questions exploring several dimensions of the program (general perception of the sanitary service, and its three phases).

Results: Among the 732 students surveyed, 418 were included (57.1 %), while among 99 host institutions surveyed (including 86 schools), 77 were included (77.8 %). The overall sanitary service student satisfaction score was 3.26 / 5 (SD = 0.96). Interventions were the best scored of the three phases of the program (3.92 / 5 (SD = 0.87)). E-learning and practical training scores varied significantly according to students' training courses (p < 0.001). Students who intervened in elementary schools (n = 253) most appreciated the interventions (4.11 / 5 (SD = 0.84)). In free comments, students emphasized that interdisciplinarity was appreciated even if it made organization more complex. The overall host institution score was 3.73 / 4 (SD = 0.25). All the heads of institutions expressed their wish to resume the sanitary service the following year.

Conclusions: The actors of the sanitary service validated the interest, quality, organization, and feasibility of an inter-field training program in health prevention for healthcare students.

Keywords: Action training; Health education; Healthcare students; Interdisciplinarity; Satisfaction.