Patient attitudes towards medical students at Damascus University teaching hospitals

Abstract

BackgroundThe cooperation of patients and their consent to involve medical students in their care is vital to clinical education, but large numbers of students and lack of experience as well as loss of privacy may evoke negative attitudes of patients, which may sometimes adversely affect the clinical teaching environment. This study aimed to explore the attitudes of patients towards medical students at Damascus University hospitals, and to explore the determinants of those attitudes thus discussing possible implications applicable to clinical teaching.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted at three teaching hospitals affiliated to the Faculty of Medicine at Damascus University. Four hundred patients were interviewed between March and April 2011 by a trained sociologist using a structured questionnaire.ResultsOf the patients interviewed, 67.8% approved the presence of medical students during the medical consultation and 58.2% of them felt comfortable with the presence of students, especially among patients with better socio-economic characteristics. 81.5% of the patients agreed to be examined by students in the presence of the supervisor, while 40.2% gave agreement even in the absence of the supervisor. Privacy was the most important factor in the patients' reticence towards examination by the students, whilst the relative safety and comfort if a supervisor was available determined patients' agreement.ConclusionsThe study concluded overall positive attitudes to the medical students' involvement in medical education. However, it is essential that students and clinical supervisors understand and adhere to professional and ethical conduct when involving patients in medical education.

Patients′ attitudes towards the participation of medical students in clinical examination and care in Western Saudi Arabia

“…Although this finding is consistent with previously conducted studies,[23478] it emphasizes the need to prepare medical students for their first contact with patients.…”

“…[34] On the other hand, the negative attitude of patients in the obstetrics department may be explained by their concern for privacy. [791011] Marwan et al .…”

“…[23] For example, patients’ comfort level towards involving medical students in performing less invasive examination and minor procedures was consistently high across different specialties in the US;[45] however, in Kuwait[6] and Ethiopia,[7] more than half the patients refused that kind of involvement.…”

Presence with purpose: attitudes of people with developmental disability towards health care students

“…Contemporary health care training also places emphasis on individual autonomy and the necessity for consent before learners can be included in patient care. This may lead to occasions when patient preference and learner needs conflict . Studies evaluating patient attitudes towards medical students across a variety of specialties have demonstrated that, by and large, health care recipients are comfortable with the involvement of learners, although negative opinions regarding learners do exist.…”

“…Studies evaluating patient attitudes towards medical students across a variety of specialties have demonstrated that, by and large, health care recipients are comfortable with the involvement of learners, although negative opinions regarding learners do exist. In particular, concerns of privacy and the limited experience of students are not uncommon . This is important to keep in mind because, although many health care settings simultaneously serve as learning environments for students, consent to involving students in patient care should not be assumed.…”