High school health education: The impact of medical student led instruction in northern Nevada high schools

• Medical students teach effective school-based intervention classes. • Program increases likelihood of discussing sensitive topics with providers. • Substance abuse classes had the largest mean % increase in student response. • Personal relationships as well as exercise classes improved student response. • Stress reduction classes had the least impact on high school students. Health education is an important topic in high school given its lasting effect on learners. Medical students are in a unique position to deliver this curriculum as they can provide information from a relatable standpoint. Ten medical students created a health education program, The Healthier Nevada Project (HNVP), designed for high school students using four modules focused on adolescent public health concerns: substance use and addiction, exercise, personal relationships, and stress and mental health. The curriculum was administered to over 700 health class students at three schools in Reno, Nevada, U.S.A., from August 2019–March 2020. This cross-sectional study measured whether the modules increased students’ comfort level, familiarity, and likelihood of discussing each topic with a healthcare provider. The method of evaluation was pre- and post-Likert scale surveys with 7–10 questions regarding students’ understanding of each topic, knowledge of related resources, and likelihood of future discussions with healthcare providers. Linear regression analysis showed significant increases in mean scores (in all cases p < 0.0001) for all four modules after the training. The modules were adjusted for the cluster effect of School and showed no significant two-way interaction between pre- and post-survey, although overall differences between schools were present. These findings indicate that HNVP significantly increased students’ knowledge, comfort, and likelihood of discussing each topic with a healthcare professional following module administration. Future efforts will aim to evaluate the long-term impact of HNVP on student behavior and evaluate if presenter type influences program success among adolescents.