Patients' attitudes towards the participation of medical students in clinical examination and care in Western Saudi Arabia.
OBJECTIVE
Patients are essential for the acquisition and development of medical students clinical skills for their tasks. The study aimed to identify factors that influence patients' attitudes towards the involvement of medical students in clinical examination and care in Western Saudi Arabia.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study using self-administered questionnaire was conducted among Saudi and non-Saudi patients at two university hospitals in Jeddah, Western Saudi Arabia. Information sought included demographic characteristics (age, gender, educational level, job, income, and marital status); patients' attitude and comfort level towards different types of students' involvement; factors influencing patients' cooperation with medical students (students' level of training, manner, skills, and attire. All these were assessed on a five-point Likert scale. Data was entered and analyzed using SPSS v 19.


RESULTS
Four hundred and seventeen adult patients participated. Fifty-one percent indicated a positive attitude towards involving medical students in clinical examination and care. Female and young patients (<45 years old) were more likely to be negative in their attitude and be less comfortable towards involving medical students in their care. The highest overall mean comfort score was with medical students taking history followed by observations and less invasive examination. Patients' mean confidence scores regarding students' attire were the highest for female traditional attire and for scrub suit for males.


CONCLUSIONS
Of the influential factors that could affect patients' willingness to cooperate with medical students, clinical skills followed by manner and level of training ranked first. Ensuring that students mastered specific procedures before coming into direct contact with patients using patient simulators, for example, would improve patients' acceptance of student participation.
College of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Sarah B
SB
Aljoudi
College of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Somayah S
SS
Alsolami
King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Menoufia University, Egypt.
Fayssal M
FM
Farahat
King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Basim
B
Alsaywid
King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Wesam
W
Abuznadah
Attitude; medical; patients; students