title: Experiences of volunteer patients during undergraduate examinations: printed information can lead to greater satisfaction.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Whilst most patients are happy to participate in medical examinations, previous studies have shown that some are dissatisfied with the information that they receive beforehand.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To demonstrate that patient satisfaction can be improved by the provision of written information.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-seven patients attending the final MBBS examination were sent written information about what to expect. The patients' experiences were assessed by means of an anonymous postal questionnaire 1 week after the examination. Their satisfaction with the level of information received beforehand was compared with that of an historical cohort who had received no written information.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The patients had few complaints about their experience of participating in examinations and many enjoyed it. Only 5% of patients registered dissatisfaction with the level of information that was provided, compared with 18% in the previous study (P = 0.077).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Written information led to a (near significant) improvement in patients satisfaction when compared to a previous cohort. We recommend that all patients attending for medical examinations should be provided with written information.
authors.affiliation: University of Newcastle, Regional School of Medicine, North Tyneside General Hospital, North Shields, UK. m.r.welfare@ncl.ac.uk
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Welfare
authors.forename: C I
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Price
authors.forename: S W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Barton
mesh_terms: D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate / Q000379:methods*; D004521:Educational Measurement / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D016544:Patient Simulation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires