Student Observations and Ratings of Preceptor's Interactions With Patients: The Hidden Curriculum

BACKGROUND: Professional values and behavior are conveyed to students through both formal and informal curricular activities. PURPOSE: This study examined 1st-year students' observations of community-based physicians' behaviors during a community-based clinical experience. METHODS: First-year students completed a 14-item instrument regarding their community-based physicians' behavior with patients. Responses were on a 5-point scale (1 = never, 5 = all of the time). Descriptive statistics were computed. RESULTS: 119 students completed the instrument (87% response rate). Students rated aspects of physicians' demeanor with patients highest (mean ranges 4.7-4.57). The lowest rated item was the physician's view of his or her professional role (M = 3.39), eliciting patients' ideas about illness and treatment (M = 3.55), and modeling interviewing techniques learned in class (M = 3.71). CONCLUSIONS: Community-based physicians reinforce many professional values associated with positive role-modeling aspects of the physician-patient interaction.