Purpose: Characterize the effect of staff scripting on medical student
acceptance in outpatient ob-gyn clinic visits.
Background: Direct patient care is a major tributary in the river
of medical education. When patients refuse medical student involvement in their
care, students are stranded in stagnant quagmire. Review of the literature
shows that medical student refusal is a national issue not limited solely to
obstetrics and gynecology (ob-gyn) clerkships (Chang, et al, 2010; Mavis,
et al, 2006; Hartz & Beale, 2000). Written and video messages about medical
student training have been effective in furthering medical student acceptance
in clinical encounters (Buck & Littleton, 2016). Open the floodgates!
Methods: A literature review using search terms “medical
student AND refusal” was conducted to guide script composition. Medical
assistant and nursing staff implemented the script in an outpatient ob-gyn
resident clinic. The script was revised halfway through the clerkship year
based on patient and staff feedback. All ob-gyn medical students were surveyed
regarding their involvement in patient visits prior to and after script
implementation.
Results: After script implementation, the percent of medical
students refused from at least one patient interaction decreased from 92% to
86%. 66% percent of our students perceived scripting as a supportive measure
for medical students, and 61% percent witnessed staff, residents, and faculty
utilizing scripting.
Discussions: Data from our institution suggest that scripting improves
medical student involvement in ob-gyn patient care. Involving staff, students,
and patients on scripting revision helped foster a learning environment rich as
the Mississippi delta in which medical students can thrive.
Topics: CREOG & APGO Annual Meeting, 2019, Student, Resident, Faculty, Clerkship Director, Clerkship Coordinator, Osteopathic Faculty, Residency Director, Residency Coordinator, Patient Care, Professionalism, Interpersonal & Communication Skills, UME, Team-Based Learning, Advocacy,
Sraavya Akella,
BSE, University
of Iowa - Carver College of Medicine; Mikayla
Freese, BS;
Petra Hahn,
BA; Amy
Hanson, BS,
BA; Hailee Reist, BA; Edward Rojas,
BS
