A qualitative evaluation of the impact of a medical student school outreach project on both medical students and school pupils

Objective To explore medical student and school pupil experiences of an outreach school teaching project. Setting Community engagement is increasingly commonplace within medical school. Secondary schools offer ample opportunities for community engagement as medical students teach and engage in service learning. There is a lack of research regarding the impact of school community engagement projects and the impact on pupils, as critical stakeholders in the service medical students provide. In this qualitative study, we explore the perspectives of medical students and school pupils involved in a school teaching project. Participants Ten medical students participated in individual interviews, and 17 school pupils across three schools participated in group interviews. Data were analysed using thematic analysis and the concept of service learning. Results For medical students, the project fostered communication and teaching skills, but a lack of reflection hampered further benefit. For school pupils, experiences varied - learning about careers in medicine could be inspiring, but content pitched at the incorrect level disengaged some pupils. The conflict between session timing and medical students' exams negatively influenced engagement. Conclusions To shift the focus of community engagement projects that promote service-learning towards mutual benefit, designing in partnership with relevant community stakeholders and integrating opportunities to reflect on these experiences are critical.