Abstract

Introduction: Caregiver interactions have a significant impact on a child’s development as well
as the parent-child relationship. Many programs exist to teach parents strategies to promote
strong, healthy interactions that benefit both the parent and child. Programs that teach positive
parenting strategies have also been beneficial to resident physicians. There is, however, limited
research surrounding how best to train medical students in positive parenting strategies. The
aim of this project was to assess the impact of a positive parenting technique seminar on
medical students' comfort level when working with children and caregivers during primary care
clerkship.
Methods: Medical students in 2023 and 2024 participated in a lecture on positive parenting
strategies during third year medical school orientation and a booster seminar prior to the start of
their primary care clerkship. Students completed a survey assessing their comfortability working
with children and caregivers before their initial lecture and after completing 6-weeks of their
rotation.
Results: The data were analyzed for each year, each rotation group, and overall (N = 84). A
significant increase in comfortability working with both children and caregivers was found among
the 2023 and 2024 third-year students (p = <0.001).
Conclusion: The study shows promise for the use of a seminar on positive parenting to
increase medical students’ comfort working with children and caregivers during primary care
clerkship.