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Evaluating a Medical Student-Directed Elementary School Health Education Initiative: A Two-Way Street

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Title: Evaluating a Medical Student-Directed Elementary School Health Education Initiative: A Two-Way Street
Language: English
Authors: Joseph D. Quick (ORCID 0000-0002-5590-8169), Shadae Nicholas, Shwetha Ramachandran (ORCID 0009-0000-3299-4431), Bennett Kukla, Paul Sabharwal, Aleksandar Izda, Ryan R. Song, Marcel Jean-Pierre, Malia Valder, Kailash Singh, Amy S. Nowacki, Roopa Thakur, Gerard Banez, Laura Lipold, Monica Yepes-Rios
Source: Health Education Journal. 2026 85(2):107-119.
Availability: SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 13
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Elementary Education
Early Childhood Education
Grade 3
Primary Education
Grade 4
Intermediate Grades
Grade 5
Middle Schools
Descriptors: Medical Students, Elementary School Students, Health Education, Knowledge Level, Program Effectiveness, Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5, Nutrition, Hygiene, Exercise, Leisure Time
Geographic Terms: Ohio (Cleveland)
DOI: 10.1177/00178969251380089
ISSN: 0017-8969
1748-8176
Abstract: Objective: Early elementary school health education is often lacking due to resource constraints. This quality-improvement project evaluated the impact of a medical student-directed elementary school health education programme. Design: Elementary school students participated in health education sessions led by medical students. Pre- and post-surveys were administered to both elementary school and medical school students to evaluate their health knowledge or self-reported growth, respectively. Elementary school teachers completed a post-survey after observing the curriculum. Setting: The study was conducted in 2024 in third- to fifth-grade classrooms of an elementary school in Cleveland, Ohio, USA. Method: Elementary school students (n = 54) participated in a series of four, 1-hour health education sessions taught by medical students. The four core topics -- nutrition, hygiene, exercise and relaxation and growth and development -- were presented over several weeks. Pre- and post-tests were used to evaluate changes in elementary school students' understanding of the material. Medical students (n = 26) completed pre- and post-surveys to measure changes in their personal and professional development. Elementary school teachers (n = 4) were queried at the programme's conclusion to provide an overall assessment of the health education initiative. Results: Elementary school students showed significant improvement in health education knowledge from pre-test to post-test (+11.1%, p = 0.003). Medical students reported growth in engagement and motivational strategies (+13.8%, p = 0.006), lesson planning and educational skills (+12.2%, p = 0.01) and ability to convey complex health information (+12.0%, p = 0.03). Elementary school teachers rated the programme 94.0 ± 9.4 on a 100-point scale. Conclusion: A medical student-led health education programme may improve health education knowledge among elementary school students while also enhancing medical students' personal and professional development.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1499862
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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  Data: Evaluating a Medical Student-Directed Elementary School Health Education Initiative: A Two-Way Street
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  Data: English
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Joseph+D%2E+Quick%22">Joseph D. Quick</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5590-8169">0000-0002-5590-8169</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Shadae+Nicholas%22">Shadae Nicholas</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Shwetha+Ramachandran%22">Shwetha Ramachandran</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0009-0000-3299-4431">0009-0000-3299-4431</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Bennett+Kukla%22">Bennett Kukla</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Paul+Sabharwal%22">Paul Sabharwal</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Aleksandar+Izda%22">Aleksandar Izda</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ryan+R%2E+Song%22">Ryan R. Song</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Marcel+Jean-Pierre%22">Marcel Jean-Pierre</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Malia+Valder%22">Malia Valder</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Kailash+Singh%22">Kailash Singh</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Amy+S%2E+Nowacki%22">Amy S. Nowacki</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Roopa+Thakur%22">Roopa Thakur</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Gerard+Banez%22">Gerard Banez</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Laura+Lipold%22">Laura Lipold</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Monica+Yepes-Rios%22">Monica Yepes-Rios</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Health+Education+Journal%22"><i>Health Education Journal</i></searchLink>. 2026 85(2):107-119.
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  Data: SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com
– Name: PeerReviewed
  Label: Peer Reviewed
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  Data: Y
– Name: Pages
  Label: Page Count
  Group: Src
  Data: 13
– Name: DatePubCY
  Label: Publication Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2026
– Name: TypeDocument
  Label: Document Type
  Group: TypDoc
  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
– Name: Audience
  Label: Education Level
  Group: Audnce
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Higher+Education%22">Higher Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Postsecondary+Education%22">Postsecondary Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Elementary+Education%22">Elementary Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Early+Childhood+Education%22">Early Childhood Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Grade+3%22">Grade 3</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Primary+Education%22">Primary Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Grade+4%22">Grade 4</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Intermediate+Grades%22">Intermediate Grades</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Grade+5%22">Grade 5</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Middle+Schools%22">Middle Schools</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Descriptors
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Medical+Students%22">Medical Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Elementary+School+Students%22">Elementary School Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Health+Education%22">Health Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Knowledge+Level%22">Knowledge Level</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Program+Effectiveness%22">Program Effectiveness</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Grade+3%22">Grade 3</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Grade+4%22">Grade 4</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Grade+5%22">Grade 5</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Nutrition%22">Nutrition</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Hygiene%22">Hygiene</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Exercise%22">Exercise</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Leisure+Time%22">Leisure Time</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Geographic Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Ohio+%28Cleveland%29%22">Ohio (Cleveland)</searchLink>
– Name: DOI
  Label: DOI
  Group: ID
  Data: 10.1177/00178969251380089
– Name: ISSN
  Label: ISSN
  Group: ISSN
  Data: 0017-8969<br />1748-8176
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Objective: Early elementary school health education is often lacking due to resource constraints. This quality-improvement project evaluated the impact of a medical student-directed elementary school health education programme. Design: Elementary school students participated in health education sessions led by medical students. Pre- and post-surveys were administered to both elementary school and medical school students to evaluate their health knowledge or self-reported growth, respectively. Elementary school teachers completed a post-survey after observing the curriculum. Setting: The study was conducted in 2024 in third- to fifth-grade classrooms of an elementary school in Cleveland, Ohio, USA. Method: Elementary school students (n = 54) participated in a series of four, 1-hour health education sessions taught by medical students. The four core topics -- nutrition, hygiene, exercise and relaxation and growth and development -- were presented over several weeks. Pre- and post-tests were used to evaluate changes in elementary school students' understanding of the material. Medical students (n = 26) completed pre- and post-surveys to measure changes in their personal and professional development. Elementary school teachers (n = 4) were queried at the programme's conclusion to provide an overall assessment of the health education initiative. Results: Elementary school students showed significant improvement in health education knowledge from pre-test to post-test (+11.1%, p = 0.003). Medical students reported growth in engagement and motivational strategies (+13.8%, p = 0.006), lesson planning and educational skills (+12.2%, p = 0.01) and ability to convey complex health information (+12.0%, p = 0.03). Elementary school teachers rated the programme 94.0 ± 9.4 on a 100-point scale. Conclusion: A medical student-led health education programme may improve health education knowledge among elementary school students while also enhancing medical students' personal and professional development.
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: EJ1499862
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