The attitude of patients towards medical students in a sexual health clinic

Abstract

Objectives: To determine patient attitudes toward medical students in the sexual health clinic, and to describe factors associated with patient refusal of medical student involvement. Method: A self administered questionnaire was given to 259 consecutive patients attending the general genitourinary medicine clinic. Participants were asked to indicate their attitude to questioning and/or examination by medical students. Information was also collected on sex, age, ethnicity, and previous visits to sexual health clinics and previous exposure to medical students. The proportion of patients reporting comfort with student involvement, and association with age, sex, country of birth, language spoken, and previous experience of student and/or genitourinary medicine clinics are reported. Results: 82.6% of patients agreed to participate. The proportion reporting feeling comfortable with students ranged from 64% for female students questioning them with a doctor present to 35% for a male student questioning them alone. Comfort levels were associated with the sex of the student and previous exposure to medical students, but not age, country of birth, language spoken, or previous attendance at a sexual health clinic. The most common reasons for feeling uncomfortable with students were privacy concerns and poorer quality of care. Conclusion: Many patients feel uncomfortable with medical student involvement in a sexual health clinic consultation; particularly patients with no previous contact with medical students. Privacy and standard of care were the most common concerns, which are potentially amenable to change through better explanation of the students' role in the clinic.T he attitude of patients towards the involvement of medical students in a sexual health clinic is currently unknown. In general medicine and gynaecology outpatient clinics a significant proportion of patients reported feeling uncomfortable having students present and disclosing personal information to them.

Students Learning from Patients: Let’s Get Real in Medical Education

“…Students may, understandably, feel uneasy or under-skilled in their early contacts with patients, even where patients report that they feel emotionally supported simply by the presence of medical students (Mukohara et al, 2006). Students may misjudge how sensitive patients can feel in vulnerable situations, such as a sexual health clinic, where women patients are typically less comfortable with male students, and some patients may even refuse student involvement (Ryder et al, 2005).…”

Impact of educational messages on patient acceptance of male medical students in OB–GYN encounters

“…Indeed, simply having exposure to medical students has been found to correlate with comfort with medical student involvement in patient care (Ryder et al, 2005). However, it is important to note that when contact with medical students is perceived as negative, this negative contact can have a lasting impact.…”

“…It is possible that past experience, especially past positive experience, increases patients' comfort with allowing students to be involved in future encounters. In fact, previous exposure to medical students was found to be correlated with comfort with medical student involvement in patient care (Ryder, Ivens, & Sabin, 2005). This comfort extends to involvement in examinations, as well as history taking and clinical interviews.…”

When patients decline medical student participation: the preceptors’ perspective

“…A growing number of studies have reported that, generally, patients have an open and positive attitude towards medical student involvement in clinical care (Devera-sales et al 1999;Fortier et al 2006;Mavis et al 2006;Doshi et al 2006;Ryder et al 2005;Simons et al 1995;Bishop et al 1991;Ching et al 2000;O'Flynn and Rymer 2002;Shann and Wilson 2006;York et al 1995;Townsend et al 2003;Passaperuma et al 2008). In fact, among 575 patients attending community and academic-based primary care clinics, Devera-Sales et al (1999) found 90% were receptive to medical students taking part in their clinic visit.…”