Student observations and ratings of preceptor's interactions with patients: the hidden curriculum.
BACKGROUND
Professional values and behavior are conveyed to students through both formal and informal curricular activities.


OBJECTIVE
This study examined 1st-year students' observations of community-based physicians' behaviors during a community-based clinical experience.


METHODS
First-year students completed a 14-item instrument regarding their community-based physicians' behavior with patients. Responses were on a 5-point scale (1 = never, 5 = all of the time). Descriptive statistics were computed.


RESULTS
119 students completed the instrument (87% response rate). Students rated aspects of physicians' demeanor with patients highest (mean ranges 4.7-4.57). The lowest rated item was the physician's view of his or her professional role (M = 3.39), eliciting patients' ideas about illness and treatment (M = 3.55), and modeling interviewing techniques learned in class (M = 3.71).


CONCLUSIONS
Community-based physicians reinforce many professional values associated with positive role-modeling aspects of the physician-patient interaction.
Thiedke
Carolyn
C
Department of Family Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston 29425, USA. thiedkcc@musc.edu
Blue
Amy V
AV
Chessman
Alexander W
AW
Keller
Albert H
AH
Mallin
Robert
R
D003479:Curriculum / Q000592:standards; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate / Q000379:methods*; D005194:Family Practice / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D010819:Physician's Role; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D013337:Students, Medical; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States