Bridging Inequity Gaps in Healthcare Systems While Educating Future Healthcare Professionals—The Social Health Bridge-Building Programme

• Published in: International journal of environmental research and public health Vol. 20; no. 19; p. 6837
• Main Authors: Valentin, Gitte, Nielsen, Claus Vinther, Nielsen, Anne-Sofie Meldgaard, Tonnesen, Merete, Bliksted, Kristina Louise, Jensen, Katrine Tranberg, Ingerslev, Karen, Maribo, Thomas, Oestergaard, Lisa Gregersen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 27.09.2023; MDPI
• Subjects: Collaboration; Health disparities; Life expectancy; Medical personnel; Social support; Socioeconomic factors; Systematic review
• ISSN: 1660-4601; 1661-7827; 1660-4601
• DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20196837

Social inequity in healthcare persists even in countries with universal healthcare. The Social Health Bridge-Building Programme aims to reduce healthcare inequities. This paper provides a detailed description of the programme. The Template for Intervention Description and Replication (TIDieR) was used to structure the description. The programme theory was outlined using elements from the British Medical Research Council’s framework, including identifying barriers to healthcare, synthesising evidence, describing the theoretical framework, creating a logic model, and engaging stakeholders. In the Social Health Bridge-Building Programme, student volunteers accompany individuals to healthcare appointments and provide social support before, during, and after the visit. The programme is rooted in a recovery-oriented approach, emphasising personal resources and hope. The programme finds support in constructs within the health literacy framework. Student volunteers serve as health literacy mediators, supporting individuals in navigating the healthcare system while gaining knowledge and skills. This equips students for their forthcoming roles as healthcare professionals, and potentially empowers them to develop and implement egalitarian initiatives within the healthcare system, including initiatives that promote organisational health literacy responsiveness. The Social Health Bridge-Building Programme is a promising initiative that aims to improve equity in healthcare by addressing individual, social, and systemic barriers to healthcare. The programme’s description will guide forthcoming evaluations of its impact.