Identifying medical students

Editor - I am writing in response to Nick Symons's letter last month. ¹ In it he suggests that the title "student doctor" may portray a better representation of our training state to patients than "medical student."

As part of a special study module in my third year I did a small survey of hospital patients, asking them what they understood by the terms medical student and student doctor and then what they thought these people were capable of doing in hospital.

Although some patients thought that "student doctors" were more experienced than "medical students," the majority realised that the two terms described the same people. however, what was most surprising about the study was how little patients knew of the role of students in hospital.

Thus by arguing over the semantics we are missing the point. We should be focusing more on raising public awareness of the role of students, so that consent for involvement in student teaching is truly informed. During their introduction to patients students have an opportunity to explain their role or allow patients to ask questions. however, the responsibility to provide the information also lies with other members of staff, who should also be encouraged to give fuller explanations, and with the hospital authorities to pro­ vide information in patient literature.

Rebecca Roberts, fourth year medical student, Bristol university
Email: rr6890@bris.ac.uk


studentBMJ 2001;09:171-216 June ISSN 0966-6494

1. Symons N. Identifying medical students. StudentBMJ 2001;9:163.(May.)