A survey of UK medical schools' arrangements for early patient contact

Abstract

Background: Many U.K. medical schools have patient contact in the first two years of the undergraduate course.

Aim: To compare the purposes and organization of early patient contact in UK medical schools and to relate these arrangements to the schools' curricular objectives.

Methods: A telephone survey of lead educators in UK medicals schools. Categories of contact were plotted against phases of the course to discern patterns of organisation.

Results: The quantity of contact varies considerably (four to 65 days). There is a pattern, with learning objectives around the social context of health and illness preceding skills based work and integrated clinical knowledge for practice coming later. Schools fall into three categories: close adherence to the preclinical/clinical split, with limited early contact acting as an introduction to social aspects of health; provision of substantial patient contact to maximize the integration of knowledge and skills; and transitional, with limited clinical goals. General practice provides between one third and one half of early patient contact.

Conclusions: Arrangements meet the objectives set by each school and reflect differing educational philosophies. Change is toward more early contact. There appears to be no national guidance which supports a minimum quantity of patient contact or specific educational purpose in the early years of U.K. basic medical training.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Kevork Hopayian

KEVORK HOPAYIAN is a GP in Leiston, Suffolk, Primary Care Educator in Suffolk and Honorary Senior Lecturer at the University of East Anglia. His interests include evidence-based practice and musculoskeletal medicine.

Amanda Howe

AMANDA HOWE is the Professor of Primary Care and MB/BS Course at the School of Medicine, Health Policy and Practice at the University of East Anglia in Norwich, UK. She is a Consultant in Primary Care to Norfolk Primary Care Trust and holds a sessional GP post. Her research interests include mental health in primary care, professional development and medical education.

Valerie Dagley

VAL DAGLEY is a Research Associate at the School of Medical, Health Policy and Practice at the University of East Anglia and was former deputy head and and Vice-Principal of Cromer High School, Norfolk. Her research interests include medical education.