The presence of medical students in surgery sessions: the patient opinion. The phase II study

Also in Italy, since few years medical schools are expanding their teaching in general practice. In 2004 we conducted a qualitative study, (focus groups), to analyze if the presence of a student could influence the consultation This is the phase II study, a questionnaire survey, concerning patients views and feelings about the presence of medical students in general practice. Methods. The self-administered questionnaire was developed from the focus groups interviews. The study was performed in 26 General Practices over a period of two months during the general practice attachment for undergraduate medical students. The questionnaire was distributed to patients after consultation asking them to fill in it before leaving the surgery. Results. A total of 1070 (83.3%) from 1285 questionnaires distributed, were filled in completely. The survey has shown a general consent among patients about the presence of undergraduate students: most patients accept them and consider to have enough privacy and confidentiality. In some cases they also pointed out that they would more information to choose whether to participate in the training of the student. Finally some specific points concerning subgroups of patients and students characteristics and attitudes, coming from the inferential analysis, are shown .