Understanding medical practice: different outcomes of a pre-medical program

This qualitative research study addresses the issue of how effective pre-medical programs are in preparing students for medical practice. Students nearing completion of a pre-medical program were interviewed and observed when consulting with patients in teaching hospitals, with the focus on how they understood and carried out medical practice. The study highlights significant differences in the outcome of the pre-medical program with respect to students' understanding of medical practice. Case studies are used to illustrate these differences. The results demonstrate that reaching a diagnosis and having a firm base in knowledge about symptoms and sicknesses are important to the students' understanding of medical practice. However, there are differences in the emphasis given to these issues and, more particularly, in the extent to which other aspects are taken into account. The students' understanding of medical practice range from something the doctor does to the patient's body to contributing to the person's health and life quality through cooperation and mutual respect. Implications for medical education arising from the study are addressed, underlining the need for a clear and explicit focus on developing students' understanding of medical practice throughout the pre-medical program.