Enhancing patient involvement in undergraduate medical education
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Identifying ways to enhance the active involvement of real patients in undergraduate medical education.
IRAS ID
199727
Contact name
Gillian HS Vance
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Newcastle University
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 11 months, 28 days
Research summary
Identifying ways to enhance the active involvement of ‘real’ patients in undergraduate medical education.
Direct contact with patients is important for many aspects of medical student learning. While some patients might be encouraged and trained to contribute formally to medical education processes, the role of ‘non-expert’ patients (those who access medical care only occasionally) in the day-day teaching that occurs on student’ clinical placements is poorly understood.
Thus, this project aims to develop a better understanding of the factors that influence involvement of ‘real’ patients in undergraduate medical education, and what students need to make the most of these opportunities and establish ’good learning practice’.
This research will support planning of patient involvement initiatives in medical school curricula, with the findings informing practical guidance on how patients – and students – could be better prepared to benefit from these encounters.
Between April and June 2016 all adult patients/carers attending four GP (University teaching) surgeries across the North East region will be invited to participate (approx. 300 patients). Only patients who lack understanding of written or spoken English will be excluded. Participants will be asked to complete a questionnaire when they attend the surgery, either by themselves or in a face-face interview. They will also be invited to attend one of four focus groups held between June and July 2016, though volunteers (8-10 per group) will be selected purposively to represent different social groups and those with both positive and negative views on the subject.
A medical student focus group will be held with volunteer students in September 2016. The analyses and study report will be completed by February 2017.REC name
North West - Preston Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/NW/0159
Date of REC Opinion
17 Feb 2016
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion