Patient journey project - Version 1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Does joining a patient in their experience of attending an outpatient hospital appointment increase a student’s understanding of what it is like to be a patient?
IRAS ID
248103
Contact name
Jan Cooper
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Warwick
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 8 months, 30 days
Research summary
Previous evidence has shown that empathy towards patients in medical students can decrease as they progress through their training. As empathy is a key skill needed by doctors to enhance their relationships with their patients, novel ideas are needed to teach this within the curriculum. A focus group comprising patients, students and educators was held to generate such ideas, and the concept of students travelling with patients, and observing their hospital appointments from their point of view was proposed.
This pilot study will involve five pairs of student volunteers meeting five patients at their homes and travelling with them using their usual method of transport (e.g. bus) to an outpatient appointment at one of 3 local hospital trusts. They will wait with the patient, however long the delay, and will attend the appointment with their patient, experiencing it completely from the patient's point of view, without looking at the patient's notes beforehand, or discussing their case with their consultant. They will then travel back home with their patient. Afterwards they will have the opportunity to discuss with the patient the effect of their condition on their life, the difficulties they face when attending outpatient appointments, and their thoughts about the consultation the student has just observed.
The outcomes and practicality of this activity will be evaluated by asking students to complete a short questionnaire beforehand, and interviewing both patients and students afterwards. Questionnaires and transcribed interviews will be analysed, to evaluate the impact of the activity on all participants. It is hoped that by taking part the students’ skills in empathy will increase, and if the activity is successful it will be incorporated into the curriculum, benefiting future students, and patients.
A grant from the Association for the Study of Medical Education (ASME) has been obtained to support this pilot.REC name
London - Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/LO/1824
Date of REC Opinion
16 Nov 2018
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion