An evaluation of early patient contact for medical students.

The introduction of early patient contact for first-year medical students in the form of talking with a patient at an out-patient clinic was evaluated. The aim of the session was to give students an insight into the patient's view of the illness and treatment, and the effect of the condition on his or her lifestyle. Students found the visit useful and enjoyable. Students were asked to complete an evaluation questionnaire after the visit. Students said that they had learned a variety of things from the visit. These included: how it felt to be a patient (27%); the need to communicate clearly (23%); about doctor-patient interaction (23%); and the effect of illness on the patient (16%). Students also said that they would like to remember things from the visit to put into practice later on, particularly concerning the area of communication. The visit appeared to be a successful integration of preclinical and clinical disciplines.