Medical student attitudes to patient involvement in healthcare decision-making and research

O'Neill, J. , Docherty Stewart, B., Ng, A., Roy, Y., Yousif, L. and McIntyre, K. R. (2023) Medical student attitudes to patient involvement in healthcare decision-making and research. Journal of Medical Ethics, (doi: 10.1136/jme-2023-109451) (PMID:37989572) (Early Online Publication)

Abstract

Objective: Patient involvement is used to describe the inclusion of patients as active participants in healthcare decision-making and research. This study aimed to investigate incoming year 1 medical (MBChB) students’ attitudes and opinions regarding patient involvement in this context. Methods: We established a staff–student partnership to formulate the design of an online research survey, which included Likert scale questions and three short vignette scenarios designed to probe student attitudes towards patient involvement linked to existing legal precedent. Incoming year 1 medical students (n=333) were invited to participate in the survey before formal teaching commenced. Results: Survey data (49 participants) indicate that students were broadly familiar with, and supportive of, patient involvement in medical treatment. There was least support for patient involvement in conducting (23.9%), contributing to (37.0%) or communicating research (32.6%), whereas there was unanimous support for patients choosing treatment from a selection of options (100%). Conclusion: Incoming members of the medical profession demonstrate awareness of the need to actively involve patients in healthcare decision-making but are unfamiliar with the utility and value of such involvement in research. Further empirical studies are required to examine attitudes to patient involvement in healthcare.

• Item Type: Articles
• Keywords: patient involvement, decision-making, healthcare, medical research.
• Status: Early Online Publication
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: McIntyre, Dr Kirsty and O'Neill, Dr Jennifer
• Authors: O'Neill, J., Docherty Stewart, B., Ng, A., Roy, Y., Yousif, L., and McIntyre, K. R.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing
• Journal Name: Journal of Medical Ethics
• Publisher: BMJ Publishing Group
• ISSN: 0306-6800
• ISSN (Online): 1473-4257
• Published Online: 21 November 2023
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2023
• First Published: First published in Journal of Medical Ethics 2023
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy