Exploring stakeholder support for student-run free clinics to address gaps in non-communicable disease care in Ghana: An exploratory sequential mixed-methods study

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including hypertension and diabetes, are leading causes of morbidity and mortality in Ghana, where underserved communities face persistent barriers to screening, early management, and self-care education. Student-run free clinics (SRFCs) may help address these gaps, but their feasibility in sub-Saharan Africa remains underexplored. We used an exploratory sequential mixed-methods design to examine stakeholder perspectives on and support for SRFCs as a model for expanding NCD care in Ghana. Qualitative data were collected through six focus group discussions with 48 health professional students, six key informant interviews with university faculty, academic leaders, and Ghana Health Service officials, and two focus group discussions with 12 community members. Quantitative surveys of 316 health professional students assessed willingness to participate in SRFCs and associated factors. Thematic analysis, descriptive statistics, and logistic regression were used, and qualitative and quantitative findings were integrated narratively. Stakeholders across all groups expressed strong support for student-led initiatives addressing gaps in NCD care. Findings highlighted students’ familiarity with NCDs and barriers to care; strong acceptance of SRFCs as relevant, feasible, and potentially impactful; and endorsement from institutional and community stakeholders. Participants emphasized community impact, hands-on training, and interprofessional collaboration as potential benefits, while identifying academic demands, resource constraints, and safety concerns as possible barriers. Overall, 86.7% of surveyed students were willing to participate in SRFCs. Greater familiarity with NCDs predicted willingness to participate (odds ratio = 1.41, p = 0.007), while final-year students demonstrated lower willingness than pre-clinical and non-final-year clinical students (p = 0.0096). SRFCs represent a promising and contextually relevant model for complementing existing NCD services in Ghana. Successful implementation will require structured supervision, adequate resources, and sustainable integration with universities, communities, and the national health system.