AN EVALUATION OF EARLY PATIENT CONTACT FOR MEDICAL-STUDENTS

The introduction of early patient contact for first-year medical stude nts in the form of talking with a patient at an out-patient clinic was evaluated. The aim of the session was to give students an insight int o the patient's view of the illness and treatment, and the effect of t he condition on his or her lifestyle. Students found the visit useful and enjoyable. Students were asked to complete an evaluation questionn aire after the visit. Students said that they had learned a variety of things from the visit. These included: how it felt to be a patient (2 7%); the need to communicate clearly (23%); about doctor-patient inter action (23%); and the effect of illness on the patient (16%). Students also said that they would like to remember things from the visit to p ut into practice later on, particularly concerning the area of communi cation. The visit appeared to be a successful integration of preclinic al and clinical disciplines.