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. 2016 Jun;5(3):186-190.
doi: 10.1007/s40037-016-0271-7.

Addressing the role of medical students using community mobilization and social media in the Ebola response

Helena J Chapman  1   2 , Victor J Animasahun  3   4 , Adesoji E Tade  3   4 , Asad Naveed  3   5
Affiliations

Addressing the role of medical students using community mobilization and social media in the Ebola response

Helena J Chapman et al. Perspect Med Educ. 2016 Jun.

Abstract

Health professions education in the 21st century should incorporate both community mobilization and social media strategies. First, community mobilization facilitates change by educating community members with evidence-based, high-quality and up-to-date health information and empowering their active participation in target health initiatives. Second, advancements in technology and globalization foster the development of innovative communication technologies used as a key tool in the 'roll out' of community health initiatives during epidemics such as Ebola virus disease. In August 2014, medical students of Sierra Leone and Guinea used these dual health promotional strategies in the Kick Ebola Out campaign to educate community members about transmission of the Ebola virus and preventive measures, as well as to reduce perceptions related to stigma or fear of disease transmission. In this report, we describe how medical students, who are trained in basic and clinical sciences, evidence-based practices, and social determinants of health, can serve as human resources for health and facilitate dynamic communication strategies to educate and empower both medical students and community members for local or national health initiatives.

Keywords: Ebola virus disease; Health promotion; Medical education; Social media.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Dual health promotional strategies of community mobilization and social media used by medical students during the Ebola virus disease outbreak in Sierra Leone and Guinea in 2014
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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