title: An evaluation of medical students' views on the introduction of a community placement and its impact on their understanding of patients with disabilities.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In 2011 the third-year community course at the University of Liverpool was reorganised to have an emphasis on disability. The aim was to increase students' understanding of some of the issues surrounding disability and what this means to individual patients. The rotation consists of six full-day, small-group tutorial sessions, five days at a GP placement where, amongst other things, they have to perform a 'long case' clerking of two patients with disabilities, communication skills sessions and visits to community disability centres.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five focus groups were arranged with a total of 42 students from the third year at the University of Liverpool asking them their views on the rotation and whether it had increased their understanding of this area.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The students had enjoyed the placement and felt it had increased their understanding of the issues surrounding disability. Seeing patients in the community, time spent being taught by a GP and seeing patients with a GP were particularly well received. The centre visits in particular gave them an insight into people's lives and the fact they had to log cases of patients with disabilities helped to ensure the aims of the rotation were met.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overall the responses from the students were positive towards the block and the placement and they could see the value of a disability rotation based in the community.
authors.affiliation: University of Liverpool, UK, Centre for Excellence in Evidence-based Learning and Teaching, University of Liverpool, Cedar House, Ashton Street, Liverpool L69 3GE, UK. efcsw@liv.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Watmough
authors.affiliation: University Community Clinical Teacher, University of Liverpool, UK.
authors.forename: Pete
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Leftwick
authors.affiliation: Community Studies Unit, University of Liverpool, UK.
authors.forename: Sian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Alexander-White
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003151:Community Health Centers / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000639:trends; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000639:trends; D004739:England; D006801:Humans; D008017:Life Expectancy / Q000639:trends; D011157:Population Dynamics / Q000639:trends; D011231:Preceptorship / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000639:trends*; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000639:trends*; D018794:Problem-Based Learning; D015397:Program Evaluation; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology*; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology