Using the AHEC Scholars Program to Enhance Health Professions Learners’ Self-Efficacy for Practice Transformation

Abstract

The Indiana Area Health Education Centers Scholars program is a 2-year leadership program designed to supplement health professions students' academic training and enhance practice readiness around 6 core topic areas including practice transformation. The study was a retrospective cohort study assessing learners' reported level of self-efficacy on a set of 6 competencies around practice transformation and quality improvement. A total of 68 students graduating in the first cohort responded to the competency questions. Area Health Education Center Scholars reported a significant increase in self-efficacy on the competencies Identify issues emerging in health care delivery such as accountable care organizations, medical homes, and health insurance exchanges; understand how to practice effectively within the organization and culture of the interprofessional team, practice setting, and local health care system, and use an electronic health record to retrieve relevant information and to document care. This study found that learners reported a significant increase in self-efficacy related to implementing practiced transformation.