First early patient contact for medical students in Prague

Undergraduate medical education in the Czech Republic is currently undergoing extensive changes.

Since the very beginning of the study we have aimed to introduce mandatory education in general practice at the Second Medical School of Charles University in Prague.

A total of 106 medical students were divided into pairs; three pairs of students were assigned to one GP (trainer) who chose suitable families for them to visit after lectures in communication skills. The students met their trainers again after the visits, and 1 week of family placement was concluded by seminars that involved small groups of students led by assistant lecturers of the Institute of General Practice of the Postgraduate Medical School.

Early patient contact for medical students proved to be a good method of starting training in communication skills and for helping to understand the patient as a human being. Students evaluated highly their lecture notes and seminars for small groups as ways of preparing them for their future tasks. The attention that the medical students gave to their new subject, and their interest in continuing the seminars and visits of 'their' families, showed that the Family Placement project had a positive response.