Objective

To learn about patients’ views on consultations they received by medical students under indirect faculty supervision.

Method

Observational research conducted among 95 pregnant women under outpatient care for high risk pregnancy and 40 mothers of preterm born infants assisted through an outpatient follow-up service, under the care of fifth or sixth year student doctors. Two semi-structured questionnaires were used: prior to consultation (pre-test) and after consultation (post-test), containing objective and descriptive questions. Quantitative data were analyzed in a contingency table and statistical analysis was performed using Fisher’s exact test.

Results

Our data demonstrated the changing attitudes of pregnant women and mothers of preterm child comparing before and after the student doctor consultation under indirect supervision, in relation to both the sense of comfort when being consulted and examined by a medical student and confidence in the student’s conduct. The descriptive analysis of words quoted by pregnant women before the consultation indicated anxiety and, after consultation, were calmness and satisfaction. As regards the mothers of premature infants, before the consultation the KEYWORDS were: ‘worry’, ‘insecurity’ and ‘anxiety’. After the consultation the words ‘satisfaction’, ‘trust’ and ‘confidence’ predominated.

Conclusion

This study demonstrated a positive change in the perception of outpatients from high-risk obstetrics and pediatrics units consulted by medical students under indirect faculty supervision. Patients also recognized that this model of medical care is important for medical students’ learning as part of their training.

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