Gulfareen Haider, Nishat Zehra, Nusrat Nisar, Aftab A Munir.
Presence of Postgraduate students in Gynecology outpatient department: how do patient feels?.
J Liaquat Uni Med Health Sci Jan ;8(1):55-9.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to document the views of patients about presence of postgraduate students during gynecology consultation, to highlight the reasons of acceptance or refusal of student`s participation in outpatient care and to make implications for both patient satisfaction and medical training. DESIGN: Descriptive study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Conducted on patients who attended gynaecology out patient services at Isra university hospital from 1st April to 1st June, 2007. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Total 115 patients were selected randomly. 20-40 year aged patients were included in this study while pregnant women and unmarried girls were excluded. Total number of postgraduate students was 15. No more than six students were present at a time during consultation. All were female trainees for fellowship of College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan (FCPS) trainees. These trainees were present to observe and discuss management of patients with consultant. Written informed consent was taken from all women for participation in this study. Information was collected through questionnaire. RESULTS: Mean age of the patients was 33.35 years. Out of 115 patients, 78.3% (90) patients felt comfortable in the presence of post-graduate students and accepted their presence, while 21.7% (25) patients refused their presence. Among 78.3% (90) women who accepted the presence of students, 96.7% (87) were willing to be examined in front of students in future, if they come to hospital for any other problem. While 3.3% (3) patients refused to be examined in front of students. CONCLUSION: Majority of patients were willing to have postgraduate students presence during their consultation. Women who refused their presence, had reasons of previous bad experience, shyness, no privacy, diversion of doctor`s attention from patient to trainee and because number of trainees were more during examination . Reducing number of trainees during consultation and doing discussion with post graduate students at the time when patient have left the room will further increase the willingness of patients for students presence. Information brochure should be distributed to patients highlighting the benefits of clinical teaching may help to persuade some unwilling patients to reconsider the presence of post graduate students.

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