Introduction Previous studies have claimed gap year clinical experiences before medical school matriculation increase student self-efficacy and clinical confidence. At the University of Central Florida College of Medicine, 41 first-year medical students participated in a new certification course to become emergency medical responders before beginning their coursework. This study describes the results of a follow-up study that aims to investigate the impact the course had on student competency, self-efficacy, and clinical efficacy and if the course would prepare students similarly to previous clinical experience. Methods First-year medical students completed a 30-question survey consisting of a Likert scale and free-response questions. Questions were based on the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education core competencies: medical knowledge, practice-based learning and improvement, systems-based practice, patient care, professionalism, and interpersonal and communication skills. Questions on the perceived benefit of the emergency medical responder course and previous clinical experiences were also included. Responses were separated based on participation in the emergency medical responder course and prior clinical experience. Two-tail Welch's t-tests were performed on the data to determine significance. Results Of 98 responses: 20.4% (20/98) of participants of the emergency medical responder course had previous clinical experience, 21.5% (21/98) of participants of the course had no clinical experience, 26.5% (26/98) did not participate in the course but had previous clinical experience, and 31.6% (31/98) did not participate in the course nor had previous clinical experience. Students with previous clinical experience reported the emergency medical responder course improved both their patient care skills and performance in courses that emphasized patient interviewing and physical exams. Students with clinical experience had significantly higher medical knowledge (p < 0.1) and professionalism (p < 0.1) Likert scores. Eighty-seven percent of students agreed the course had a positive impact on their patient care skills. Conclusion Larger sample size is needed to make stronger conclusions; however, the responses show the emergency medical responder course had a positive subjective impact on students with previous medical experience. Previous clinical experience leads to the most positive subjective reporting of competencies such as medical knowledge and professionalism. Early clinical exposure, such as an emergency medical responder certification course, may improve self-efficacy and patient care skills for medical students with no previous clinical experience.
Keywords: competency; emergency medical responder; gap years; medical education; self-efficacy.
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