Benefits to Patients

Participation in the Patient as Teacher program can have positive, powerful, and lasting impacts on both undergraduate medical students and patients as teachers.

 

Benefits for Patients as Teachers:

  • engage in self-reflection and personal learning through sharing stories and past experiences with students1
  • social and therapeutic benefits such as gaining a sense of community amongst fellow patients as teachers, a deeper understanding of the doctor-patient relationship, and increased empowerment1, 2, 3
  • build communication skills through expressing thoughts, feelings, and experiences
  • contribute to the future of medical education and make a lasting difference in the delivery of humanistic and compassionate patient-centred care1, 3

 

Selected References and Further Reading

  1. Luckner H, Daucet S, Wells S. 2012. Patients as educators: the challenges and benefits of sharing experiences with students. Medical Education, 46: 992-1000.
  2. Jha V, Quinton ND, Bekker HL, et al. 2009. Strategies and interventions for the involvement of real patients in medical education; a systematic review. Medical Education, 43: 10-20.
  3. Towle A, Bainbridge L, Godolphin W, et al. 2010. Active patient involvement in the education of health professionals. Medical Education, 44: 64-74.