Medical Students' Knowledge of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES)

  • Vincent Morelli Meharry Medical College
  • Mary Kay Fadden Meharry Medical College
  • Oyindayo Modupe-Ajoke Hassan Meharry Medical College
  • Terry Allen Henry Meharry Medical College
  • Kimiko Moore Meharry Medical College

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Background and Objectives

This study was designed to assess the knowledge of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) in year-one medical students at an HBCU. After assessing this knowledge, we evaluated the effectiveness of an ACEs educational program intervention.

Methods

The study entailed dispersion of a pre-program ACEs knowledge survey, the implementation of a trauma-informed curriculum to augment the hypothesized knowledge deficit, and finally a post-program survey assessing the effect of our intervention.

Results

Results demonstrated a significant knowledge deficit in year-one medical students but also showed that a trauma-informed curriculum could enhance knowledge survey scores by over 50%.

Conclusions

The study adds to the growing body of literature emphasizing the need to include programing in the social determinants of health as a part of every medical school's curricula. It especially highlights the importance of including such curricula in medical training at HBCUs whose graduates often work in underserved areas where the need for trauma-informed care is critical and where such care can be especially impacting.

Author Biographies

Mary Kay Fadden, Meharry Medical College

Mary Kay Fadden, MPH PA-C

Epidemiologist

Department of Family and Community Medicine

Meharry Medical College

Oyindayo Modupe-Ajoke Hassan, Meharry Medical College

Oyindayo Modupe-Ajoke Hassan, MHS, BSE

Year Four Medical Student

Meharry Medical College

Terry Allen Henry, Meharry Medical College

Terry Allen Henry Jr.

Year-Four Medical Student

Meharry Medical College

Kimiko Moore, Meharry Medical College

Kimiko Moore

Year-Two Resident

Department of Family and Community Medicine

Meharry Medical College

Published
2022-05-10