Background: Medical students have limited training on how to interact with pediatric patients and families. Reach Out and Read (ROR) is an evidence-based intervention promoting early literacy with a volunteer reading aloud program. Volunteers are trained to model shared reading, interact with patients, and create a stimulating environment for families. Objective: This study analyzes the impact of volunteering on various aspects of medical student education. Design: Cross-sectional study between an intervention and comparison group. Outcomes measured via online surveys. Setting: A public medical school in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA. Methods: 145 medical students completed a survey measuring several variables: clinical interaction skills, knowledge of modeling shared reading, and the impact of volunteering on their academic careers. Data were stratified by volunteer status. Both quantitative and qualitative data were analyzed. Results: 89.5 of volunteers vs 19.8 of non-volunteers reported knowledge of modeling shared reading to families (p<0.0001). 89.5 of volunteers vs 63.5 of non-volunteers reported comfort working with families of pediatric patients (p=0.03). 94.7 of volunteers agreed that volunteering with ROR impacted their medical school career. Positive qualitative experiences were collected as well. Conclusions: Volunteering is associated with two crucial skills for future pediatricians: interacting with pediatric patient families and modeling shared reading to families. Volunteering also impacts the academic career of med students in meaningful ways. More opportunities like this program could improve medical student education and clinical skills.
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