The presence of medical students in practice consultations. Rates of patient consent.
OBJECTIVE
To measure the frequency of nonconsent encountered by medical students and describe the influence of gender.


METHODS
An observational study of general practice teaching consultations.


RESULTS



METHODS
63 students (40% female), 67 general practitioners (30% female), and 2572 patients (56% female).


RESULTS
3.4% of all patients (79% female) did not give consent (4.6% for male students; 1.6% for female; OR = 3.0, 95% CI 1.7-5.3). The rates of nonconsent did not vary between age groups for men but occurred mainly in the 15-44 years age group for women. Male students encountered more nonconsenting female patients than female students, particularly in consultations with female GPs.


CONCLUSIONS
Consent to allow medical students to be present in general practice consultations is usually provided. It is typically declined for male students by young women attending women doctors.
Kljakovic
Marjan
M
Wellington School of Medicine, New Zealand. marjan@wnmeds.ac.nz
Parkin
Chris
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001315:Australia; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005194:Family Practice / Q000193:education*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007258:Informed Consent / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019370:Observation; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012737:Sex Factors; D013337:Students, Medical