Healthcare Students and the Future of Integrated Care

Healthcare students are the future of medicine. Their knowledge and attitudes today will shape how they practice tomorrow. A recent study looked at how well students from three different schools understand and value integrated healthcare. This approach combines nutrition, lifestyle changes, and traditional medicine.

Key Findings

• Most students in the study knew a lot about integrated healthcare.
• They also had positive attitudes towards it.
• However, there were differences among students from different schools, years of study, and disciplines.
• Nursing students knew more than nutrition students.

Knowledge vs. Action

• Knowledge did not always lead to action.
• Students who knew more about integrated healthcare did not necessarily practice it.
• This shows that knowing something is not enough.
• Attitudes and beliefs also play a big role.

The KAP Model

The study used a model called KAP (Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice).

• It helps understand how these three factors are connected.
• The study found:
• Knowledge had a weak but positive link to attitude.
• It did not directly affect practice.

Conclusion

This study is important. It shows that teaching healthcare students about integrated care can be beneficial.

• It can help create better healthcare policies and practices.
• However, more needs to be done.
• Students need to be encouraged to put their knowledge into practice.