What happens to patients who teach?

Over the last 35 years, the use of lay people as teaching patients has evolved from novel to routine.

Although many studies have examined the effectiveness, reliability, and validity of using trained patients to evaluate medical students and residents, little is known about the effect on patients of being teachers. This study addresses that question.

Patients-in-training with actual musculoskeletal conditions completed 3 questionnaires: the SF-36 to evaluate perceived health status, the Chubon Life Situation Survey to examine perceived quality of life, and 3 visual analogue scales to assess the relationship with their personal physicians. One year later, the same questionnaires were readministered to patients who were actively teaching and those who had dropped out of training.

In comparison to those who dropped out of training, patients who were actively teaching demonstrated a trend toward lower health status but higher quality of life; they also reported more satisfying relationships with their personal physicians.

This study provides evidence that patient-teachers appear to benefit from teaching despite lowered health status. Similar to other studies, instructors' personal relationships with their respective physicians were positively influenced.