[Patients' expectations of basic medical education]

Demonstrating to a patient that his worries are understood and his expectations are acknowledged leads to improved compliance, satisfaction with medical care and better quality of life. Consequently, patients' expectations of the "final product" of basic medical education refer not only to cure or relief of complaints but focus on communication, information and empathy. The best insight into patients' perspectives have physicians who have been patients themselves. Such experience is shown in six examples which do not criticize medical technique but deficits in communication, understanding and empathy. Because it is neither realistic nor desirable that doctors experience serious disease as part of their education we must emphasize sensible interaction and competent communication in our teaching efforts. This should enable students to learn the nature of illness during their clinical terms. Empiric studies show that these deficits can be improved or even abolished by modest means and small expenditure. The conversion into the medical curriculum should cover a mandatory communication course (including simulated and standardized patients), doctor-patient seminars, an ethics course and an enlarged course for physical examination (prepared in skills laboratories). Hopefully, the expected restructuring of the medical licensing code will consider these insights. Medical faculties could take their chances of an individual realisation.