What happens to patients who teach?
BACKGROUND
Over the last 35 years, the use of lay people as teaching patients has evolved from novel to routine.


OBJECTIVE
Although many studies have examined the effectiveness, reliability, and validity of using trained patients to evaluate medical students and residents, little is known about the effect on patients of being teachers. This study addresses that question.


METHODS
Patients-in-training with actual musculoskeletal conditions completed 3 questionnaires: the SF-36 to evaluate perceived health status, the Chubon Life Situation Survey to examine perceived quality of life, and 3 visual analogue scales to assess the relationship with their personal physicians. One year later, the same questionnaires were readministered to patients who were actively teaching and those who had dropped out of training.


RESULTS
In comparison to those who dropped out of training, patients who were actively teaching demonstrated a trend toward lower health status but higher quality of life; they also reported more satisfying relationships with their personal physicians.


CONCLUSIONS
This study provides evidence that patient-teachers appear to benefit from teaching despite lowered health status. Similar to other studies, instructors' personal relationships with their respective physicians were positively influenced.
University of Illinois at Chicago, Department of Family Medicine, 1919 West Taylor M/C 663, Chicago, IL 60612-7248, USA. mgecht@uic.edu
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D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005194:Family Practice / Q000193:education; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010361:Patients; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011788:Quality of Life; D013663:Teaching