Abstract
BackgroundCurricula in most western medical universities include teaching in the primary care setting as core elements. This affects GP-teachers, their patients and their interaction. Therefore, it was the aim of this study to assess the influence of the presence of medical students in the teaching practice on the attitudes of both GPs and patients.MethodsSeventy-four GP-preceptors were invited to answer an online survey. Patients attending consultations with a medical student present completed questionnaires either before the consultation (WR group) or immediately after consultation (AC group).ResultsFifty- nine preceptors completed the online survey. Physicians showed positive attitudes towards their activities as preceptors: 95% expressed a positive attitude predominantly towards being a role model and to represent the discipline and for 64% remuneration was not important. In 28 practices 508 questionnaires were completed by patients in the WR-group and 346 by the AC-group. Only 12% (WR) and 7.2% (AC) of patients expressed a preference for being seen by the doctor alone. While 16% of doctors rated that confidentiality of the doctor-patient relationship is compromised, only 4.1% (WR) and 1.7% (AC) of patients felt so.ConclusionThe motivation to be a preceptor is primarily driven by personal and professional values and not by economic incentives. Further, patients have even more positive attitudes than the preceptors towards the presence of students during their consultation. Reservations to teaching students in GP-practices are, therefore, unwarranted.
Highlights
Curricula in most western medical universities include teaching in the primary care setting as core elements
Since there are no data available from Austria, it was the aim of this study to assess the attitudes of General practice (GP), who are actively involved in teaching, and their patients towards the presence of medical students during the physicianpatient interaction
I feel motivated for this kind of teaching because I can stay in contact with students
Summary
Curricula in most western medical universities include teaching in the primary care setting as core elements This affects GP-teachers, their patients and their interaction. For a number of years the need for a more comprehensive and problem-oriented basic medical education relevant for daily clinical practice has been recognized [1] Since this cannot be taught adequately in the learning environment of a university hospital or a lecture hall, curricula in most western medical universities include teaching in the primary care setting at the community level as a core element. Since the year 2000, the curriculum at the Medical University in Vienna includes an obligatory attachment to a GP- office This is an administrative and economic challenge for the academic institution and a challenge of acceptance and managing time constraints for the primary care practices. Since there are no data available from Austria, it was the aim of this study to assess the attitudes of GPs, who are actively involved in teaching, and their patients towards the presence of medical students during the physicianpatient interaction
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