Involvement Of Medical Students Research Articles

THE RELEVANCE OF MEDICAL RESEARCH IN THE TRAINING PROCESS OF FUTURE PHYSICIANS IN INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER MEDICAL EDUCATION IN UKRAINE

This article delves into the critical role that medical research plays in the education and training of future physicians. Medical research is indispensable for the accurate diagnosis, effective treatment, and prevention of diseases, making it a cornerstone of modern medical practice. The involvement of medical students in research activities not only equips them with vital skills but also shapes their professional identity and ethical framework. Participating in medical research enhances students' critical thinking and analytical skills. It immerses them in the latest scientific advancements, ensuring they stay abreast of new developments in the medical field. This exposure fosters a scientific mindset, encouraging students to approach clinical problems with a research-oriented perspective. Moreover, engaging in research cultivates a sense of ethics and professionalism, which are essential qualities for any medical practitioner. The author advocates for the integration of medical research into the medical education curriculum. This integration can be achieved through various means, such as practical sessions, involvement in scientific projects, participation in conferences, and opportunities for publication. Practical sessions provide hands-on experience, allowing students to apply theoretical knowledge in real-world scenarios. Scientific projects, whether individual or collaborative, encourage in-depth exploration of specific medical issues, fostering a deeper understanding of the subject matter. Conferences serve as platforms for students to present their research findings, engage with peers and experts, and receive constructive feedback. This interaction not only broadens their knowledge but also enhances their communication and presentation skills. Publications, on the other hand, offer students the opportunity to contribute to the body of medical knowledge, gaining recognition for their work and encouraging a culture of continuous learning and inquiry. The integration of research into the educational process is not just about acquiring knowledge; it is about shaping a new generation of physicians who are well-equipped to utilize scientific advancements in their practice. By embedding research into the curriculum, medical schools can prepare students to become highly qualified doctors who are adept at applying research findings to improve patient health outcomes.

A Commemoration to Silent Anatomy Teachers: Content Analysis of Gratitude Expressions by Diverse Medical Students

Objectives: Body donors play a crucial role in anatomy education by providing students and researchers with the opportunity to study and understand the human body in a hands-on manner. It is crucial to pay gratitude to donors with the inclusion of diverse medical students. The aim of this study was to conduct a commemoration and a content analysis of gratitude expressions by diverse medical students.Methods: A project commemorating body donors was conducted at the Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Wayamba University of Sri Lanka. The medical students who completed the dissections were guided to reflect on the implications of working with cadavers through notes, poems or drawings in their convenient language. Content analysis with an inductive coding method was conducted following the receipt of those submissions.Results: The response rate was 90.13% (n=137). Among the participants, 74.45% (n=102) identified and expressed gratitude for the donor for being a silent teacher. Additionally, there was acknowledgement of human dignity in 63.5%(n=87) and recognizing the selflessness and generosity of the donor in 62.77%(n=86). Analysis also revealed learning humanistic skills such as reverence, responsibility towards patients, and compassion by 25.55% (n=35) of the medical students through working with cadavers.Conclusion: The project permitted individual involvement of medical students from diverse religious and cultural backgrounds in commemoration of body donors. The high response rate and positive views expressed by participants demonstrate the significant impact of cadavers in anatomy education and fostering humanistic skills among medical students.

Teaching prudent antibiotic use on the go: a descriptive report on development, utilization and listener satisfaction of an educational podcast format for medical students and young professionals

BackgroundAn important component in fostering the responsible use of antibiotics is training of new and future prescribers in this interdisciplinary topic. Because podcasts are playing an increasing role in medical education, we aimed to develop and evaluate a podcast format with practice and guideline-oriented learning content on antibiotic therapy for medical students and young medical professionals.MethodsWe developed the concept for the podcast with the direct involvement of medical students and medical experts with teaching experience. We used video conferencing when recording the episodes in order to have quick, easy, and nationwide access to the experts involved. We released an episode every 2 to 4 weeks on the popular podcast platforms. The podcast was promoted through mailing lists, social and print media, and at conferences. The evaluation of episodes was based on user data provided by the platforms and an anonymous feedback questionnaire linked to each episode in the podcast notes.ResultsBetween December 2021 and December 2022 19 episodes of InfectEd: der Antibiotika-Podcast were released. The mean duration of an episode was 91 min. By March 9, 2023, a total of 38,829 downloads and streams had been recorded. The majority of users listened to the podcast on a mobile device. The average playing time per episode was 65%. The feedback questionnaire was completed 135 times. 60.7% of respondents were female, 38.5% male. The majority of respondents were in their twenties and thirties (66.7%). 31.1% were medical students, 25.9% were residents, and 25.2% were specialists. Listeners were asked to rate episodes on a scale from 1 to 6, where 1 was “very good” and 6 was “insufficient.” Ratings did not differ significantly between female and male respondents or between medical students and others. 118 respondents (87.4%) reported an increase in knowledge. Free-text feedback frequently emphasized clinical and also exam relevance.ConclusionOur podcast format, developed with a user-centered approach, was broadly distributed and has been well accepted by both medical students and physicians alike. It provides a large number of learners with low-threshold access to current, guideline-orientated content and could be a useful supplement to conventional teaching formats.

Obstetrics and gynecology patients' perceptions about bedside teaching at a Saudi teaching hospital.

Bedside teaching (BST) is a crucial component of medical education. It entails the interaction of students with patients in outpatient clinics and inpatient wards under the supervision of their tutors in order to improve the clinical skills of the students and, ultimately, patient outcomes. This teaching relies heavily on patients' willingness and cooperation. The aim of this study was to assess the perception of Obstetrics and Gynecology (OB/GYN) patients regarding the presence and participation of medical students in BST. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among OB/GYN patients at the outpatient clinics and inpatient wards at King Fahd Hospital of the University (KFHU) in Al-Khobar from January 1 to April 30, 2023. Data were collected online through the Google Drive survey tool using a validated and pilot tested questionnaire. Data were analyzed utilizing SPSS version 26.0. Chi-squared test was employed to test for association between two categorical variables. Multiple logistic regression model was used to determine variables associated with positive attitudes. A total of 507 patients completed online questionnaire. A highly positive patients' attitude was observed toward the presence and participation of medical students during BST with a mean score of 81.8 ± 10.4. The acceptance rates were higher for female students compared to male students (91.9% vs 61.7%) and for senior doctors compared to junior doctors (89.9% vs 58.9%). Patients who came to the outpatient clinics were also more likely to accept students' presence than those who went to hospital wards. Age, marital status, and previous clinic visits were positively associated with the acceptance level of the presence and involvement of medical students in BST without a significant difference. In general, patients had a good perception of medical students' engagement in their care and that the gender of the medical students/doctors and clinical setting could affect this perception. Raising patients' awareness of their valuable role in male medical students' and doctors' education should be raised, as this will increase their acceptance during BST.

Emerging Research Interest in Medical and Dental Undergraduates

I am writing this letter to highlight the current encouraging and commendable rise in the involvement of undergraduate medical and dental students in research across Pakistan. A positive surge was detected among the medical and dental institutes reflecting increasing interest and contribution in research activities. A study in Saudi Arabia reported the relationship between rising research trends and its contributing factors, henceforth, stating that admission into residency (56.8%), interest in research (41.8%), and aid in clinical decision-making (31%) were the top three factors for research interest 1.

Effectiveness of Near-Peer-Taught Case Reviews on Students' Confidence in National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) Exams.

Introduction A key element to a first-year medical student's (MS1) education is guidance and practice in applying anatomy, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment concepts to clinical vignettes. One potential solution to providing effective clinical reasoning training is the involvement of second-year medical students (MS2s) in small group sessions as teachers to provide more personalized instruction via case-based learning sessions. Near-peer teaching has been shown to benefit students' confidence in learning and improve test scores. Similarly, case-based learning is heavily associated with an improved understanding of complex topics. As such, this study assessed the efficacy of near-peer teaching with concomitant case-based style presentations on improving the comfort of MS1s with their understanding of the curriculum content and their comfort with applying their knowledge to clinical scenarios. Methods This randomized controlled crossover trial included several small-group study sessions, each consisting of five MS1s and led by an MS2 who reviewed selected clinical cases in a standardized slide decks. The control arm was provided the same slide decks but did not participate in the MS2-led sessions. During the first course, students were assigned to either the control or intervention group and then crossed over to the opposite group (control to intervention and vice versa) in every subsequent course. Comfort with the curriculum material was then assessed through pre and post surveys, with the post surveys administered after the MS1s took their final NBME examination for that course. Results The study was cut short due to COVID-19 precautions limiting in-person sessions. Nevertheless, the post survey demonstrated an increased understanding of pathological concepts for the intervention group compared to the control group. Conclusions Future work on near-peer group study sessions should enroll a larger sample size with measures to improve the response rate to better test whether near-peer-led case reviews had a significant effect on students' understanding of anatomical concepts and confidence during NBME examinations.

Patients' Attitudes Toward the Involvement of Medical Students in Their Health Care in the Family Medicine Clinics in the Makkah Region, Saudi Arabia.

Background The medical undergraduates in the College of Medicine at Umm Al-Qura University, Saudi Arabia, are dedicated to undergrad training in family health facilities. Throughout this clinical attachment, students receive instructions in family practice, patient management, communication skills, clinical examination, and history-taking. Objectives This study was conducted to assess patients' attitudes and key contributing variables toward having medical students participate in their health care consultations in family medicine clinics in the Makkah region of Saudi Arabia. Methods A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample of 529 patients who attended family medicine clinics in primary health care settings and were living in the Makkah region. The researchers collected the relevant data during a three-month period (from February 1 to the end of April 2023) by administering a validated, well-structured, self-administered online survey of 24 items on several electronic platforms and analyzing it with SPSS Version 23. Results The mean of their answers on attitude was found to be 41.6 ± 8.51, suggesting a positive attitude of the patients toward the involvement of medical students in their health care. Around 150 (28.4%) of the participants strongly agreed that medical students obtained their histories, and 119 (22.5%) strongly agreed that medical students performed clinical examinations for them. Around 104 (19.7) of the participants strongly agreed and 140 (26.5) perceived that the involvement of medical students in their health care improves doctors' competence. Being 56 years old or older, widowed, retired, or having chronic diseases were found to be associated with a more positive attitude of the patients toward the involvement of medical students in their health care, with p-values of 0.024, 0.034, 0.009, and 0.005, respectively. Conclusions Patients showed favorable attitudes toward the existence and participation of medical students in their health care in family medicine clinics. The provision of health-related information and the taking of a detailed history were the most notable benefits of medical students' involvement in patient care, according to most of the patients. Older, widowed, retired, and those with chronic diseases seemed to possess a positive attitude toward the engagement of medical students in their health care in the family medicine clinics.

Informed consent for medical student involvement in patient care: an updated consensus statement.

Enabling patients to consent to or decline involvement of medical students in their care is an essential aspect of ethically sound, patient-centred, mana-enhancing healthcare. It is required by Aotearoa New Zealand law and Te Kaunihera Rata o Aotearoa Medical Council of New Zealand policy. This requirement was affirmed and explored in a 2015 Consensus Statement jointly authored by the Auckland and Otago Medical Schools. Student reporting through published studies, reflective assignments and anecdotal experiences of students and teachers indicate procedures for obtaining patient consent to student involvement in care remain substandard at times. Between 2020 and 2023 senior leaders of Aotearoa New Zealand's two medical schools, and faculty involved with teaching ethics and professionalism, met to discuss these challenges and reflect on ways they could be addressed. Key stakeholders were engaged to inform proposed responses. This updated consensus statement is the result. It does not establish new standards but outlines Aotearoa New Zealand's existing cultural, ethical, legal and regulatory requirements, and considers how these may be reasonably and feasibly met using some examples.

Motivators and barriers to research participation among medical students in Saudi Arabia.

Little is known about the obstacles medical students face when conducting research in Saudi Arabia. Moreover, the proportion of medical students in research has been unknown in our region compared to other regions. We sought to identify the barriers and motivators that influence undergraduate medical students in pursuing research. This was a cross-sectional study design, utilizing an online survey distributed through social media platforms from the 17th of December 2021 to the 8th of April 2022. The survey was distributed to four universities in Saudi Arabia. Participants' characteristics, details regarding involvement in research, and attitude towards research were collected. Frequency measures were used to characterize the demographics and chi-squared tests to determine associations. A total of 435 students were included in the final analysis. The highest proportion of students that responded were second year, followed by first year medical students. Less than half (47.6%) of medical students were involved in research. A significant correlation was revealed between the involvement in research and higher participants' Grade Point Average (GPA). The top three incentives for pursuing undergraduate research were "admission into residency programs" (44.8%), "interest in research" (28.7%), and "financial return" (10.8%). However, the top three limitations were "lack of time" (29.2%), "lack of mentoring" (16.8%), and "lack of interest in research" (14.7%). System-related barriers and motivators were the main reasons behind the involvement of medical students in research. Our study is a call for action to raise awareness among medical students about the importance of research and to provide solutions to overcome these barriers.

Students of the Medical College against the background of three other faculties of the Jan Kochanowski University in Kielce

The need to limit people-to-people contacts during the COVID-19 pandemic introduced the need for distance learning at universities. After two years of pandemic restrictions, we decided to check the opinion of medical students and three other faculties on the conducted classes and compare groups with each other. We conducted a survey research based on standardized questionnaire which included 306 students from four faculties of the Jan Kochanowski University in Kielce – Faculty of Law and Social Sciences (1), Medical College (2), Faculty of Exact and Life Sciences (3), Faculty of Pedagogy and Psychology (4).
 Students did not differ in the assessment of most types of classes conducted in a virtual form. The exceptions were virtual meetings in a group of students, which were better assessed at the faculty no. 1 compared to 2 and 4. Students of Medical College faculty differed in terms of assessing level of distance learning and their own involvement. Their ratings on these two issues were the lowest among the four groups. The students of individual faculties did not differ in terms of assessing the effectiveness of the elements of education in the traditional and remote modes of operation.
 
 The subjective assessment of distance learning by students from various faculties shows subtle differences. The transition to distance education resulted in a decline in the involvement of medical students in their education and a subjective decrease in quality of teaching comparing to other faculties. This opinion may be taken into account when adapting curricula and selecting the type of classes to be conducted in the course of distance or hybrid learning.

Patient's Perceptions and Attitudes Towards Medical Student's Involvement in Their Healthcare at a Teaching Hospital in Jordan: A Cross Sectional Study.

Medical students' involvement in patients' care varies according to patient's willingness, as some might consider it a privacy invasion. Thus, exploring patients' perceptions and attitudes towards this interaction should be thoroughly investigated, to better understand it and to provide evidence-based data for improving the training of future doctors. A cross-sectional study was conducted at Jordan University Hospital. A questionnaire was answered by 420 patients from the out-patients' clinics. Of the patients interviewed, 94% were aware that they were in a teaching hospital, 92% approved the presence of medical students during their consultation and 80% accepted to be observed and examined by medical students in the presence of a senior doctor. However, this decreased to 30.5% if there was no senior doctor. Almost 83% of the patients believed that their consent should be obtained first. However, only 58% of them indicated that the student asked for consent prior to interacting with them. Patients who were more likely to approve the existence of medical students during consultation and allow students to perform procedures on them, respectively, were those who were asked for consent by students (P = 0.001 and P = 0.021), considered seeing medical students' enjoyable (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001), thought that their privacy was not violated (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001), and were provided with useful information about their health problems (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001). Patients showed an overall positive stance towards the involvement of medical students in their healthcare. The majority were delighted to see medical students while some expressed concerns over their privacy due to the large number of students and because several students do not ask for their consent. It is essential to apply medical ethics practices together with patient-centered approach.

Academic productivity of Iraqi medical students in the field of neurosurgery: A literature review.

The interest in clinical research is growing worldwide, and the involvement of medical students in academic and clinical research is increasing. Medical students in Iraq have started to focus on academic activities. However, this trend is in its infancy due to limited resources and the war burden. Their interest in the field of Neurosurgery has been evolving recently. This is the first paper that aims to assess the status of the academic productivity of Iraqi medical students within the neurosurgical field. We searched the PubMed Medline database and Google scholar between January 2020 and December 2022 with a different combination of keywords. Additional results were obtained by individually searching for all the medical universities in Iraq that participated in the neurosurgical literature. Between January 2020 and December 2022, 60 neurosurgical publications included Iraqi medical students. 47 Iraqi medical students from 9 universities (the University of Baghdad 28 students, followed by 6 students from the University of Al-Nahrain, and others) were involved in these 60 neurosurgery publications. The topics of these publications are "vascular neurosurgery" (n = 36) followed by "neurotrauma" (n = 11). Academic productivity of Iraqi medical students in the field of Neurosurgery has surged in the last 3 years. In the past 3 years, 47 Iraqi medical students from nine different Iraqi universities contributed to sixty international neurosurgical publications. However, there are challenges that are required to be tackled to establish a research-friendly environment despite wars and restrained resources.

Effects of Physical Activity on Body Mass Index among Medical Students from East Coast Peninsular Malaysian Public University

Background: A wide-ranging scrutiny and impost of the precincts and variability of the physical activities on body mass index (BMI) relationship are crucial whether we are to comprehend how to best exploit and explore sports programming and participation for improved health. Aim: We are aiming to observe and understand the medical students’ BMI by doing physical activities. Besides, we will identify the obstacles and challenges faced by the students to balance their time after physical activities. Methods: Accordingly, screened the socio-demographic status; assessed involvement of medical students in physical activities; determined BMI among medical students and finally, correlated the physical activities with BMI. The study design used for this research is a cross-sectional study. Results: Results obtained include socio-demographic characteristics, sports participation and BMI category among medical students with physical activities. Conclusion: In general, our research revealed that only 35% of the MBBS students from UniSZA are doing physical activities. Students who are overweight and obese does not involve in any kind of physical activity but students who are having normal BMI involve themselves actively in physical activities. It shows that there is a relationship between physical activities and BMI.

Willingness of medical students to volunteer during the Covid-19 pandemic: Assessment at a tertiary care hospital in India.

Background The involvement of medical students in strategies to control Covid-19 might be considered to cope with the shortage of healthcare workers. We assessed the knowledge about Covid-19, willingness to volunteer, potential areas of involvement and reasons for hesitation among medical students towards volunteering. Methods We did this cross-sectional study among undergraduate students at a tertiary care teaching hospital in New Delhi. We used a web-based questionnaire to elicit demographic information, knowledge of Covid-19, willingness to volunteer and reasons deterring them from working during the Covid-19 pandemic, and self-declared knowledge in six domains. Results A total of 292 students participated in the study with a mean (SD) age of 19.9 (3.1) years. The mean (SD) knowledge score of Covid-19 was 6.9 (1.1) (maximum score 10). Knowledge score was significantly different among preclinical (6.5), paraclinical (7.18) and clinical groups (7.03). Almost three-fourth (75.3%) participants were willing to volunteer in the Covid-19 pandemic, though 67.8% had not received any training in emergency medicine or public health crisis management. Willingness to work was maximum in areas of social work and indirect patient care (62.3% each). Lack of personal protective equipment was cited as a highly deterring factor for volunteering (62.7%) followed by fear of transmitting the infection to family members (45.9%), fear of causing harm to the patient (34.2%) and the absence of available treatment (22.2%). Conclusions A majority of the students were willing to volunteer even though they had not received adequate training. Students may serve as an auxiliary force during the pandemic, especially in non-clinical settings.

MEDICAL STUDENT INVOLVEMENT IN RESEARCH: TRENDS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR NIGERIAN UNIVERSITIES

Undergraduate medical education in Nigeria has come a long way since its inception over seven decades ago. However, the involvement of medical students in extra-curricular clinical research is poor, falling short of international standards. This article examines the problem using local literature, summarizing the trend and associated issues. Existing studies, which are scant, show that research participation among undergraduate medical students in Nigeria is low. Barriers included insufficient research training, lack of mentorship programs, funding impediments, curriculum constraints, and gender-related disparities. The article concludes that equipping medical students with research skills is essential for a solid foundation in their career as clinical scientists, which will enable them to make crucial contributions to the advancement of medicine. Recommendations are offered based on the gaps identified.

Ensino da pesquisa científica na graduação médica: há interesse e envolvimento dos estudantes?

Abstract: Introduction: Knowledge and understanding of scientific research are skills that must be developed by all health professionals. Specifically in Medicine, these skills make up an important part of undergraduate and continuing medical education. Considering that medical training is closely related to the understanding of scientific evidence, it becomes relevant to analyze the involvement of medical students with scientific activities during the course. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the interest and involvement in scientific research among medical students, analyzing the academic profile and the extracurricular activities carried out, in addition to evaluating the scientific production and identifying the motivations and difficulties faced. Method: A cross-sectional study carried out with medical students from Salvador/Bahia, over 18 years of age. A virtual, structured, anonymous questionnaire was applied through Microsoft Forms, containing 21 questions about the academic profile and extracurricular activities carried out, in addition to data on scientific production and the motivations and difficulties faced by students. Result: Of the 460 participating students, there was a predominance of women (63.3%), aged 24.1+6.1 years, attending the basic (45.4%) and clinical (46.7%) cycles, who have no previous desire to work with research (54.8%). Among the participants, 54.6% were part of academic leagues, 31.1% were involved in research groups and 29.1% participated in monitoring. It was found that only 33.9% of students have abstracts published in congresses, 12.2% are co-authors of scientific articles and 7.4% are main authors. Interest in working with research increases during graduation (p = 0.010), with students motivated to produce scientifically (66.1%). Research experience (27.4%) and genuine interest in scientific discovery (20.9%) were the main motivating factors. However, 81.1% of students identify difficulties in producing scientific content, with inadequate guidance (16.0%) and lack of time (15.5%) being the main obstacles. No relationship was observed between motivation and difficulty to produce scientifically and the current academic cycle. Conclusion: Medical students show interest and participation in scientific research, however those who are actually involved in scientific activities represent the minority.

Analysis of Obligatory Involvement of Medical Students in Pandemic Response in the Czech Republic: Competencies, Experiences, and Legal Implications.

Objectives: Medical students in the Czech Republic were mandated by the law to take part in the COVID-19 pandemic response in order to expand healthcare capacity. Our study aimed to analyze student's competencies defined in the legislation and compare them with competencies assigned to them in clinical settings during their deployment. Methods: Online survey with statistical analysis of collected data. Results: The survey was completed by 997 respondents. A major convergence between the system of credentials defined in the legal framework and the competencies that students performed were identified. Conclusion: Medical students represented a valuable resource for addressing shortages of qualified healthcare staff in critical situation. However, the system of competencies and credentials must be aligned with the educational framework to clearly define acquisition of competencies during the course of medical studies and the legal framework regulating students' deployment must ensure consistency of actual and formal competencies in order to guarantee high standards of care and safety of the patients.

RESEARCH WORK OF STUDENTS: PROSPECTS OF INTERACTION BETWEEN CLINICAL DEPARTMENTS

Research work develops a scientific worldview, fosters personal growth, enriches experience and supports the development of research skills of medical students. Within the framework of cooperation between the Department of Medical and Dental Faculties of Poltava State Medical University, research project "Psychological research of diabetics" is currently carried out under the guidance of researchers and clinicians. The main group of 50 individuals with diabetes type 1 and 2 was examined. They were inpatients of the Endocrinological Department of M.V. Sklifosovsky Poltava Regional Clinical Hospital. Clinical examination of the group included subjective (complaints, medical history, life history) and objective (general review, location status) research. The reference group consisted of 50 respondents. Each group was given a questionnaire including questions from Misotsk multidisciplinary personal questionnaire by J. Taylor’s (1953). Respondents were asked to answer 50 yes / no questions quickly, without thinking about the answer. Each response that matched the key of the questionnaire was valued at one score. The overall assessment of general anxiety included somatic, social and neurogenic tension and was assessed by several levels of anxiety ranging from low to very high. Active involvement of medical students in research has a positive impact on their ability and confidence to work with patients, and on the acquisition of professional competence in general. Application of elements of research work in the educational and methodological process at the clinical departments of the University increases the effectiveness of medical training. This encourages future doctors to acquire new knowledge and skills, as well as contributing to the professional development of researchers and educators.

Attitude, Perception and Acceptability of Medical Students’ Involvement in Patient Management among Patients Attending Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, Nigeria

The involvement of medical students in patient clerkship, whether in outpatients or inpatients wards, is an important aspect of the training of medical students. During clinical clerkship, students extend their medical knowledge, practice procedural and communication skills, and develop clinical thinking to build their clinical proficiency. However, this is only possible if there are healthy, consensual, and professional patient–student interactions and when patients show a positive attitude towards student participation. This study aimed to determine the attitude, perception, and level of acceptability of medical students’ involvement in patient management among in-patients of Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH), Zaria. A cross sectional hospital-based study was conducted among 185 patients of ABUTH, Zaria using an interviewer administered questionnaires. One hundred and eighty-five consented respondents aged ≥15 years were enrolled and administered with the doctors during the ward round time questionnaire. Data collected were presented in frequency and percentages. Most of the respondents 169 (91.4%) reported to have history of previous contact with medical students in their previous hospitalization, and 125 (67.6%) showed good attitude, perception and high acceptance level toward involvement of medical student in their clinical management. However, 40 (23.5%) patients raised their concern towards informing them before involving medical students in their clinical care. Hence, it was recommended that patients should be informed and agreed before medical students are allowed to be involved in their care in ABUTH Zaria.

Patients’ attitudes towards involvement of medical students in their care at university teaching hospitals of three public universities in Uganda: a cross sectional study

BackgroundComfort of patients with medical students is important and promotes appropriate clinical reasoning and skills development in the students. There is however limited data in this field in Uganda. In this study, we examined the attitudes and comfort of patients attending care at the medical and obstetrics/gynecology specialties in teaching hospitals of three public universities in Uganda.MethodsWe conducted a cross sectional study among patients attending care at teaching hospitals for three public universities; Makerere University (Mak), Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST), and Gulu University (GU). Logistic regression was used to determine the magnitude of associations between independent and dependent variables. Two-sided p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.ResultsEight hundred fifty-five patients participated in the study. Majority were aged 18 — 39 years (54%, n = 460), female (81%, n = 696) and married (67%, n = 567). Seventy percent (n = 599) of participants could recognize and differentiate medical students from qualified physicians, and had ever interacted with medical students (65%, n = 554) during earlier consultations. Regarding attitudes of patients towards presence of medical students during their consultations, most participants (96%; n = 818) considered involvement of medical students in patients’ care as essential ingredient of training of future doctors. Most participants prefer that medical students are trained in the tertiary public hospitals (80%; n = 683) where they attend care. Participants who were single/never married were 68% less likely to recognize and differentiate medical students (aOR = 0.32, 95%CI: 0.22 — 0.53) from other members of the healthcare team as compared with married participants. Participants with university education had 55% lower odds of being comfortable with presence of medical students during consultation compared to those with primary education (aOR = 0.45, 95%CI: 0.21 — 0.94). Participants from MUST teaching hospital had twofold higher odds of being comfortable with presence of medical students compared to participants from Mak teaching hospitals (aOR = 2.01; 95%CI: 1.20 — 3.39).ConclusionPatients are generally comfortable with medical students’ involvement in their care; they prefer to seek care in hospitals where medical students are trained so that the students may contribute to their care. Medical students need to introduce themselves appropriately so that all patients can know them as doctors in training; this will promote patients’ autonomy and informed decisions.