Exploring Stakeholder Support for Student-Run Free Clinics to Address Gaps in Non-Communicable Disease Care in Ghana: An Exploratory Sequential Mixed-Methods Study

Background

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as hypertension and diabetes, are leading contributors to morbidity and mortality in Ghana. Underserved communities face persistent barriers to NCD screening, early management, and self-care education, limiting progress in disease control and health equity. Student-run free clinics (SRFCs) have successfully addressed similar gaps in healthcare access in other global contexts, but their feasibility and relevance remain underexplored in sub-Saharan Africa. This study investigates local stakeholder perspectives and support for SRFCs as a contextually appropriate intervention to expand access to NCD care in Ghana.

Methods

We used an exploratory sequential mixed-methods design with interpretation-level integration. Qualitative data were collected through six focus group discussions (FGDs) with 48 health professional students, six key informant interviews (KIIs) with faculty, deans, and Ghana Health Service (GHS) officials, and two FGDs with 12 community members. Quantitative data from surveys of 316 students assessed interest in SRFC participation and its predictors. Thematic analysis, descriptive statistics, and logistic regression were used for qualitative and quantitative data, respectively. Findings were integrated narratively, weaving together quantitative results and qualitative insights for convergence and contextual depth.

Results

Stakeholders across all groups—including health professional students, university faculty and leadership, GHS officials, and community members—expressed strong support for student-led initiatives to address gaps in NCD care. Integrated findings revealed three key domains: (1) widespread familiarity among students with NCDs and barriers to care; (2) strong student acceptance of SRFCs as a relevant, feasible, and impactful intervention to improve NCD screening, early management, and self-care education—shaped by both motivating and discouraging factors such as social impact, academic obligations, resource constraints, and safety concerns; and (3) cross-sector endorsement of SRFCs by institutional and community stakeholders, who emphasized alignment with organizational missions, confidence in student capacity, and the initiative’s value for hands-on training and interprofessional collaboration. Quantitatively, 86.7% of surveyed students expressed willingness to participate in SRFCs, and greater familiarity with NCDs was a significant predictor of interest (OR = 1.41, p = 0.007). Stakeholders viewed SRFCs as timely, trusted, and well-positioned to complement existing services such as GHS Wellness Clinics.

Conclusions

SRFCs represent a promising model to enhance NCD care in Ghana. Broad stakeholder support, institutional alignment, and a foundation of student-led health initiatives suggest strong feasibility for implementation. Future efforts should focus on structured supervision, resource planning, and sustainable integration with national health systems to maximize impact and scalability.