Bridges to Access 2024: The Role of Multidisciplinary Conferences in Enhancing Policy Knowledge and Advocacy Confidence in Health Professional Students and Healthcare Professionals

Background: Health policy profoundly affects public health and health outcomes by determining the accessibility, quality, and distribution of healthcare resources. Despite this, health professional education often lacks consistent and comprehensive training on health policy and advocacy skills, leading to gaps in knowledge and preparedness among future healthcare providers. Methods: The Bridges to Access (B2A): Health and Policy conference, held at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, is a student-led multidisciplinary event aimed at filling these educational gaps. Effectiveness was assessed using a pre/post-conference survey design, and the study evaluated changes in attendees’ knowledge regarding specific barriers to healthcare and advocacy confidence. Results: The data showed significant increases in understanding of various legislative topics contributing to health disparities (p < 0.05). Specifically, knowledge regarding healthcare coverage and insurance policies showed significant improvement (mean pre-conference: 2.17, post-conference: 3.00, p < 0.001). Additionally, attendees’ confidence in their ability to educate others about how policy affects healthcare delivery and access also increased markedly (mean pre-conference: 3.02, post-conference: 4.00, p < 0.001). Conclusion: These findings underscore the need for student-led initiatives like B2A as an addition or supplement to traditional curricula. By enhancing awareness and promoting active engagement in healthcare advocacy, initiatives like B2A can contribute to improved health outcomes and greater equity in the delivery of care.