Learning about general practice through qualitative interviews: Lessons from a seminar course with medical students

Abstract

Background: A seminar course was developed in order to train medical students in qualitative research methods, while providing an introduction to the field of General Practice. Students were enabled to conduct semi-structured interviews with general practitioners (GPs), during which they learned about the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of frequently encountered medical problems. The course was carried out four times at two universities in Germany.

Aims: The study explores the students’ learning experiences focusing on their research experience.

Methods: Data were collected in four focus groups and analyzed.

Results: The students perceived the course as very different from their usual medical education. This was appreciated, but also caused some difficulties. Three themes emerged: (1) Missing ‘facts’, (2) New horizons: ‘Thinking outside the box’, and (3) The challenge of interpretation: ‘Reading between the lines’.

Conclusions: Learning qualitative research methods can be particularly challenging for medical students as the tasks and epistemology of qualitative research run counter to the usual learning formats and research paradigms in medical education. When teaching qualitative research, special care should be taken to address the cognitive dissonance experienced by students and to explain the unique contribution of qualitative research to medical practice and the field of General Practice especially.

Notes

1. The German Association of General Practice and Family Medicine (DEGAM) has developed guidelines on the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of frequently encountered medical problems such as ear-ache, back pain, tiredness, stroke, urinary incontinence, elderly patients who are prone to falling, and family care-givers. DEGAM guidelines are available (in German only) from http://www.degam.de/typo/index.php

2. Own translations of the original German transcript into English; Transcription legend: P = Participant(s); M = Moderator; words in capital letters were emphasized.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Hella von Unger

HELLA VON UNGER, PhD, is a social scientist and researcher at the Social Science Research Centre Berlin (WZB), Research Group Public Health, Germany.

Katrin Werwick

KATRIN WERWICK, MA (PhD candidate), is a lecturer and researcher at the Institute of General Practice and Family Medicine, University of Magdeburg, Germany.

Thomas Lichte

THOMAS LICHTE, MD, is a professor of General Practice, director of the Institutes of General Practice and Family Medicine at the Universities of Magdeburg and Halle, Germany.

Markus Herrmann

MARKUS HERRMANN MD, MA, MPH, is a professor of General Practice, director of the Institutes of General Practice and Family Medicine at the Universities of Magdeburg and Halle, Germany.