Patient Overexposure in Teaching Hospitals: The Experience in a Medical Service Facility

Abstract

Introduction: Practical training in medicine at hospitals has led to an overpopulation of students and, oftentimes, to patient exhaustion. The authors believe professors in a clinical environment face a conflict of interests: respect for the patient's condition versus teaching. It is suggested that a climate conducive to learning and discovery of the person behind each set of clinical symptoms can be created if students and teachers know how they are perceived by patients. Objectives: To understand the reaction students provoke in patients and to indicate whether there is a prudent maximum amount of interviews per patient. A cohort of patients at a medical service facility was interviewed. The results of those interviews indicate: 1) patients identify the student-patient relationship as one of mutual benefit; 2) they believe the limit on interviews should be set by each patient, 3) patients know they can refuse to cooperate; and 4) doing so does not predispose them negatively. Conclusions: 1) The opportunity to interview a patient, or not, is determined by the patient. 2) It is essential to seek informed consent in teaching. 3) The teacher's role is that of an active observer of the studentpatient duo, promoting the virtues of coexistence among students and intervening if due trust or confidentiality are compromised.