Patient views of continuity relationships with medical students

Introduction: Continuity relationships between students and patients, that occur in a longitudinal integrated clerkship (LIC), enrich medical students' opportunities to learn from patients and provide patient-centered care. Patient preferences for continuity with a primary provider are well-doc...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Medical teacher 2013-06, Vol.35 (6), p.465-471
Main Authors: Poncelet, Ann N., Wamsley, Maria, Hauer, Karen E., Lai, Cindy, Becker, Taleesha, O'Brien, Bridget
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Academic Medical Centers
Adult
Attitudes
Clinical Clerkship
College students
Continuity of Patient Care
Female
Health education
Humans
Interviews
Male
Medical Students
Medicine
Middle Aged
Patient care
Patient centredness
Patient Education
Patient Satisfaction
Patients
Perceptions
Physician-Patient Relations
Physicians
Qualitative Research
Semi Structured Interviews
Students, Medical
Treatment preferences
Wellbeing
Young Adult
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Summary:Introduction: Continuity relationships between students and patients, that occur in a longitudinal integrated clerkship (LIC), enrich medical students' opportunities to learn from patients and provide patient-centered care. Patient preferences for continuity with a primary provider are well-documented, but little is known about patients' experiences of continuity with students. This study examines patients' perception of continuity with and care received by students. Methods: This qualitative study uses data from semi-structured interviews with 32 patients of LIC students at an academic medical center. Data were analyzed for themes about continuity and experiences of care provided by students. Results: Patients valued relationships with students over time and across settings. Students' contributions to their care included enhanced access to and coordination of care, communication, patient education and wellbeing. Patients with substantial continuity and/or who were moderately or severely ill described their student in a physician-like role more frequently than other patients. Patients appreciated patient-centered attitudes and behaviors in their students. Conclusion: Patients value continuity relationships with students, akin to that described between patients and their physicians. Patients described a variety of ways in which students enhanced their care and assumed a physician-like role. These patient perceptions support the concept of mutually beneficial relationships between students and patients.
ISSN:0142-159X
1466-187X
DOI:10.3109/0142159X.2013.774335