Partner:
Peninsula Medical School, Faculty of Health, University of Plymouth
Project:
Exploring Health Conditions
Creating opportunities for 2nd Year Medical Students to meet people with a diagnosed medical condition, enabling them to better understand the impact these conditions have on emotional and general wellbeing. We co-ordinated 3 online focus groups which enabled more than 200 students to meet with 25 people with a variety of conditions.
Using our trusted place in the community, we facilitate discussions and conversations between students and people with different clinical conditions. This is an opportunity to listen as people share the impact of their conditions and experiences of their health journey.
This unique insight enables students to recognise the importance of communication and interpersonal skills on an individual’s ability to manage their diagnosis thus improving the patient’s treatment and experience.
Creating opportunities for this knowledge exchange approach ensures that students have opportunities to hear directly with people, helping them to improve their communication and interpersonal skills as well as develop their understanding, and empathy.
The outcome from this project is far reaching and impacts on interprofessional learning opportunities across the University.
“By understanding the patients’ perspective of the conditions and how they impact their lives and taking on board the advice they gave us, based on their experiences, will make us better doctors of the future.”
Year 2 Medical Student, University of Plymouth