[Do our patients know what a family medicine resident is?]

To find patients' view of the idea of family and community medicine (FCM) residents and of what they do and patients' satisfaction with their work.

Cross-sectional, descriptive study using a questionnaire.

FCM teaching health centres. Area 7, Madrid, Spain.

Twenty-one tutors' lists, with 220 people.

Social and demographic variables, concept of FCM resident, satisfaction with resident, comparisons between resident and tutor, changes observed by patients in their doctor.

Women patients numbered 146 (66.4%); average age, 56.2 (18.95); 138 (62.7%) did not know exactly what a resident was, although 132 (60%) said he/she was a doctor. Knowledge increased with greater educational level (P< .001) and younger age (P=.04). Eighty-five (38.6%) demanded more from the tutor and tolerated errors of both equally; 196 (89.1%) were calm on being seen by a resident; 203 (92.3%) said they had the same trust in both. They noted no changes in the tutor when the resident was present (206; 93.6%). They wanted to change the same things in both (kappa=0.518). Patients were satisfied or very satisfied: 212 (96.4%), with the time that the doctor devoted to him/her with the resident present; 194 (88.2%), with having 2 doctors; and 214 (97.3%), with the attention and listening of the resident. Finally, 163 (74.1%) would recommend the resident as a doctor.

Most patients do not know exactly what a FCM resident is or does. They believe that the presence of the resident does not affect the consultation with the tutor. Trust and tolerance is similar. Satisfaction with the care received is high.