List of Publications by Department for the Academic Year Patients’ Attitudes Towards Medical Students’ Participation in Procedures and Clinical Examinations in Lebanon
Abstract
Medical practice revolves around patients’ safety and ensuring their well-being. Patients’ cooperation with
medical students in their examination and management is an indispensable aspect of clinical education.
They have the right to accept or refuse the participation of students in their care. However, students
need to be integrated in this learning process. This presents a conflict between patients’ healthcare rights
and medical students’ learning opportunities. Therefore, this study aims to explore patients’ attitudes
towards the participation of medical students in procedures and examinations in Lebanon and identify
the factors that affect their participation. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted using a
34-item questionnaire in Arabic language that was distributed via WhatsApp online platform among the
Lebanese adult population in the different governorates during January and February 2021. A total of
729 participants with a mean age of 30.8 completed the survey. Overall, participants showed a positive
attitude towards medical students’ involvement in their care. It was noted that 61.7% were knowledgeable
of their right to accept or refuse medical students’ participation in procedures. Participants showed a
great acceptance towards medical students’ presence in outpatient clinics (71.74%), reading medical
files (80.24%), and history taking (81.6%). However, their negative attitude was towards the student’s
involvement in performing genital/rectal examination (54.5%), giving an epidural injection (69.7%) and
prescribing medications (53.2%). Patient’s medical condition was the main reason that influences
participants’ decisions about medical students’ presence during their procedures (43.8%). A positive
attitude towards medical students’ participation in procedures and examinations was reflected by the
Lebanese population. Patients’ medical conditions, personalities and religious beliefs were the main
reasons affecting participants’ decisions.
Journal/Conference Information
BAU Journal - Health and Wellbeing ,DOI: https://doi.org/10.54729/2789-8288.1201, ISSN: 2789-8288 , Volume: 6, Issue: 1, Pages Range: 1-11,