Patients as educators: the challenges and benefits of sharing experiences with students
Abstract
CONTEXT: Despite movement towards active patient involvement in the education of health professionals, explorations of the experiences of patient-educators beyond descriptive research are limited. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to identify the positive and negative factors that contributed to the experiences of patient-educators in a health mentors programme for health professional students at a Canadian university. METHODS: Semi-structured focus group discussions and individual interviews were used to elicit the experiences of 30 patient-educators with chronic conditions or disabilities, of the 151 involved in the programme. Thematic analysis was used to identify key themes in the participants' experiences. RESULTS: Study participants spoke of the potential challenges and benefits of sharing their experiences. The main challenge involved in sharing their experiences was potential vulnerability should students not appreciate what was shared. The main benefits were personal learning and making valued contributions. Two factors influenced the participants' sense of whether the potential benefits outweighed the challenges of personal sharing in the programme: monitoring disclosure, and perceived student learning. Participants used the strategy of monitoring their disclosure to limit how much personal information they shared with students. The benefits of participating in the programme outweighed the potential challenges when students were seen to embrace the intended messages of the patient-educators. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study provide a conceptual framework that can be used to better prepare patient-educators and students for more reciprocal learning interaction.
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Patients described improving the healthcare system.
“and improving the healthcare system.24 33 40”
From Role of active patient involvement in undergraduate medical education: a systematic review (2020) · cites this paper as [40]
Patients described receiving a full medical check-up as a material benefit.
“and receiving a full medical check-up.40”
From Role of active patient involvement in undergraduate medical education: a systematic review (2020) · cites this paper as [40]
Patients described a sense of vulnerability to negative and non-appreciative reactions from students.
“Patients also described a sense of vulnerability to negative and non-appreciative reactions from students.40 47”
From Role of active patient involvement in undergraduate medical education: a systematic review (2020) · cites this paper as [40]
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- Authors
- Lauckner, H., Doucet, S., & Wells, S.
- Affiliations
- Dalhousie University (CA)
- University of New Brunswick (CA)
- University of British Columbia (CA)
- Corresponding author
- Lauckner, Heidi
- Venue
- Medical Education
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2012-09-19
- Volume
- 46
- Issue
- 10
- Pages
- 992-1000
- ISSN
- 0308-0110 (ISSN-L)
- 1365-2923
- OpenAlex
- W1865400918
- Cited by
- 65
- References
- 17
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 2
- FWCI
- 2.47
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Medical Education (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Innovations in Medical Education
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Empathy and Medical Education
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Mental Health and Patient Involvement
- Keywords
- patient educators, health professions students, chronic disease, disability, vulnerability, mutual learning, experiential learning
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Canada, Education, Medical, Undergraduate, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Patient Participation, Patients, Physician-Patient Relations, Students, Medical, Teaching, Focus Groups, Disclosure, Young Adult
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