Early student-patient contacts in general practice: An approach based on educational principles

Abstract

Background: Clinical teaching and learning is generally seen as an educationally sound approach, but the clinical environment does not always offer optimal conditions to facilitate students’ learning processes.

Aims: To show how insights on constructing a good learning environment for student-patient contacts in real practice can be translated into an undergraduate clinical general practice programme in Year 3 and to study its feasibility.

Method: Literature search, yielding starting points for the development of the new programme and questionnaire evaluation of the programme.

Results: Six starting points for a good learning environment for early student-patient contacts: continuing exposure to patients, transformation of experience into knowledge, active role of students, supervision and feedback, time and space for teaching and teacher training were translated into a the new programme. The evaluation showed that the programme was feasible and well received by students and GPs, although some improvements are possible.

Conclusion: In a curriculum with clear goals for early student-patient contacts, it is feasible to implement an early clinical programme in general practice based on educational principles.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Ramon P. G. Ottenheijm

RAMON PG OTTENHEIJM, MD, is general practitioner and assistant professor at the Department of General Practice, Maastricht University.

Paul J. Zwietering

PAUL J ZWIETERING, MD, PhD, is general practitioner and head of the section of undergraduate education at the Department of General Practice, Maastricht University.

Albert J. J. A. Scherpbier

ALBERT JJA SCHERPBIER, MD, PhD, is professor and scientific director of the Institute for Medical Education, Maastricht University.

Job F. M. Metsemakers

JOB F.M. METSEMAKERS, MD, PHD, is general practitioner, professor and chairman of the Department of General Practice, Maastricht University.