A Flipped Classroom and Case-Based Curriculum to Prepare Medical Students for Vaccine-Related Conversations with Parents

Introduction: Immunizations, one of the most significant public health successes in the last century, have recently been met with a resistance that has resulted in populations with falling immunity and outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases. In response to this, we conducted a needs assessment of medical students at the University of California, Los Angeles David Geffen School of Medicine to assess attitudes towards vaccines, knowledge of vaccines and vaccine-preventable diseases, and confidence in discussing vaccines. The results informed the development of this interactive, flipped-classroom and case-based curriculum for third-year pediatric clerkship students.

Methods: In our two-part curriculum, students independently view a short podcast with an overview of vaccines and vaccine-preventable diseases, then participate in a case-based workshop. For the workshop, students divide into small groups and are presented with a case-based scenario surrounding a child with a parent who has concerns about recommended vaccines. Students discuss the case in small groups, find answers to directed questions, and present the case and findings to the larger group, with specific focus on their approach to the vaccine hesitant parent.

Results: Anonymous student evaluations revealed that 93% of students enjoyed learning from this flipped classroom and case-based format. Likewise, 98% of students felt more confident in their approach to vaccine discussions.

Discussion: Vaccine hesitancy is becoming an increasingly common and worrisome problem. Our curriculum provides students with knowledge about the importance of childhood immunizations as well as an opportunity to practice addressing common concerns and misconceptions they will encounter in clinical settings.