Students' satisfaction and perceptions of attending physicians' and residents' teaching role.
BACKGROUND
Changes in the health care system imply that fewer patients will be admitted to hospitals and attending physicians will be devoting more time to clinical activities with less time for student education.


METHODS
Surveys of third-year students were conducted for 5 consecutive years at Jefferson Medical College at the end of the required 6-week surgical clerkship at the university hospital or at one of the eight affiliates.


RESULTS
The numbers of new inpatients and outpatients encountered by students were not significantly related to students' overall satisfaction. The ratings of teaching rounds and conferences were significant predictors of satisfaction with the clerkship, as were the ratings of residents' teaching.


CONCLUSIONS
As medical education shifts to ambulatory settings, didactic teaching such as rounds and conferences should be maintained and efforts to enhance the teaching skills of residents should be encouraged.
Xu
G
G
Center for Research in Medical Education and Health Care, Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107, USA.
Wolfson
P
P
Robeson
M
M
Rodgers
J F
JF
Veloski
J J
JJ
Brigham
T P
TP
D002982:Clinical Clerkship / Q000592:standards*; D013502:General Surgery / Q000193:education; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000592:standards*; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital / Q000523:psychology*; D010465:Perception; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology*; D013663:Teaching / Q000592:standards*