Attitudes of elderly patients to medical students

The attitudes of elderly patients towards clinical teaching of medical students was assessed by a structured interview carried out by a doctor unknown to the patient immediately prior to discharge. One hundred and thirty alert patients were approached on three acute geriatric medicine wards in the Royal Liverpool (Teaching) Hospital. A total of 106 (81.5%) patients were suitable for inclusion in the study (mean age, 80.2 years). Twenty-nine per cent did not know what a medical student was despite having been interviewed and examined by one. Fifty-nine per cent of patients had no prior knowledge that clinical teaching occurred. Fourteen patients (13 women, 1 man, P < 0.05) objected to being examined. Nineteen women patients were examined by a man student without a chaperone. Students usually (95%) asked permission to interview and examine the patients whereas doctors only asked patients in the context of bedside teaching (33%). Elderly patients were sympathetic towards ('They have to learn') and positive about ('It's good to have them') medical students. However, 29% of patients were not aware that a medical student was going to be a doctor despite being interviewed and examined. We suggest that the term should be used either with explanation or abandoned in favour of 'student doctor'. The level of awareness of clinical teaching was poor and examination of women patients without a chaperone caused distress and should be rectified.