Perceptions of Advocacy in High School Students: A Pilot Study

Assessing perceptions and attitudes of advocacy in adolescent populations is an important area of research. Previous studies have shown that advocacy programs in high schools are well-received and help promote health advocacy. This pilot study took place at the University of Central Florida College of Medicine Health Leaders Summer Academy hosted by medical students of the Student National Medical Association. A one-hour interactive workshop was administered to high school students interested in the healthcare field. Pre- and post-survey data were collected to assess participants’ perceptions, methods, and barriers to engaging in advocacy. A total of 29 students were included in this study. Results indicated that students’ definitions of advocacy changed after completing the workshop, as a higher percentage of students indicated that they practiced advocacy (pre-survey, 82.76% versus post-survey, 95.45%). There was a statistically significant difference in perceptions of the importance of advocacy in the student’s future career (pre-survey, 3.82 versus post-survey, 4.15, p = .035). Social media was the most effective and common form of advocacy used (post-survey 72.73%). The most common barrier to practicing advocacy was a lack of education on a particular topic (31.82% post-survey). Overall, the workshop increased participants' interest in engaging in advocacy. Future directions include expanding the study to a larger population sample throughout the Orlando community and researching the use of social media as a tool for advocacy.