Practical Pre-rotation Resources Enhance Knowledge and Attitude Towards Discharge Planning for Medical Students

Interdisciplinary discharge planning is known to be a difficult subject for medical students to comprehend given its convoluted nature. There is no standardized curriculum for students and there is a large variety between every inpatient rotations. Internal Medicine in particular sees variety of patients with unique psychosocial challenges. We previously proposed tools that are simple and specifically designed for learners and students including pyramid of discharge needs and disposition flow chart. Our current work examines the efficacy of using these resources by fourth year medical students during their subinternship rotation. Between May and September 2023, 54 students completed the rotation. Pre and post rotation surveys were administered to examine overall attitudes and knowledge about discharge planning. Comments and feedback from students were also reviewed. Our result showed a fundamental lack of knowledge by students in the roles of other discipline such as social workers and case managers. Furthermore, general attitudes and focus on discharge planning as essential part of patient care significantly improved. There were no in-group differences between student cohorts after the rotation. Students reported complementary design of these tools to their rotations and general positive perspectives overall. This study found that these customized rotation tools are useful to students and complementary to their rotations. The study finding suggests alternatives to student education outside of workshops and in person simulation.