Medical Students' and Facilitators' Experiences of an Early Professional Contact Course
Author Information
Author(s): Bernhard von Below, Gunilla Hellquist, Stig Rödjer, Ronny Gunnarsson, Cecilia Björkelund, Mats Wahlqvist
Primary Institution: The Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg
Hypothesis
What are the experiences of medical students and facilitators in the Early Professional Contact course?
Conclusion
Students found the course beneficial and inspiring, while facilitators reported a heavy workload and lack of support.
Supporting Evidence
- 70% of students and 71% of facilitators completed the questionnaire.
- Students reported increased confidence in meeting patients.
- Facilitators experienced a greater workload and less support than students.
Takeaway
Medical students enjoyed their early contact with patients and felt more confident, but their teachers felt overwhelmed and unsupported.
Methodology
A questionnaire was distributed to 86 students and 21 facilitators, and responses were analyzed using Chi-square and Mann-Whitney tests.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to the voluntary nature of facilitator participation and the subjective nature of self-reported experiences.
Limitations
The study had a relatively low response rate among facilitators and relied on self-reported data.
Participant Demographics
86 students (51 women, 35 men, median age 24) and 21 facilitators (14 men, 7 women, median age 55).
Statistical Information
P-Value
p=0.048 for student contribution, p=0.03 for understanding patient feelings.
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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