title: Patient views of continuity relationships with medical students.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Continuity relationships between students and patients, that occur in a longitudinal integrated clerkship (LIC), enrich medical students' opportunities to learn from patients and provide patient-centered care. Patient preferences for continuity with a primary provider are well-documented, but little is known about patients' experiences of continuity with students. This study examines patients' perception of continuity with and care received by students.
  
  
  METHODS
  This qualitative study uses data from semi-structured interviews with 32 patients of LIC students at an academic medical center. Data were analyzed for themes about continuity and experiences of care provided by students.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients valued relationships with students over time and across settings. Students' contributions to their care included enhanced access to and coordination of care, communication, patient education and wellbeing. Patients with substantial continuity and/or who were moderately or severely ill described their student in a physician-like role more frequently than other patients. Patients appreciated patient-centered attitudes and behaviors in their students.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients value continuity relationships with students, akin to that described between patients and their physicians. Patients described a variety of ways in which students enhanced their care and assumed a physician-like role. These patient perceptions support the concept of mutually beneficial relationships between students and patients.
authors.affiliation: University of California-San Francisco, CA 94143, USA. ann.poncelet@ucsf.edu
authors.forename: Ann N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Poncelet
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wamsley
authors.forename: Karen E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Hauer
authors.forename: Cindy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: Taleesha
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Becker
authors.forename: Bridget
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: O'Brien
mesh_terms: D000046:Academic Medical Centers; D000328:Adult; D002982:Clinical Clerkship; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D036301:Qualitative Research; D013337:Students, Medical; D055815:Young Adult