Medical student health care: a single center pilot study of utilization and barriers

Accessing routine healthcare is known to be challenging for medical students and previous studies have explored the utilization of mental health and primary medical care services in this population. This single-institution study investigated not only usage of primary medical and mental health care among medical students, but also of vision and dental care services. Additionally, the study examined perceived barriers to healthcare access. Analysis of our 38-item questionnaire revealed that fewer participants sought vision and dental care after starting medical school than before enrolling and that lack of time was the predominant barrier to accessing health care services. Many respondents reported that their mental health condition had worsened during medical school, and among respondents with mental health conditions, 39.1% had faced financial barriers to receiving appropriate care. Protecting time for primary care appointments, subsidizing medical insurance, and creating student-specific clinics were frequently suggested by survey participants to improve access to care for this population. These responses suggest the need for further investigation into financial barriers to care experienced by medical students.