Musculoskeletal examination teaching by patients versus physicians: how are they different? neither better nor worse, but complementary
Open accessAbstract
BACKGROUND: Musculoskeletal (MSK) complaints comprise 12-20% of primary healthcare; however, practicing physicians' MSK physical examination (PE) skills are weak. Further, there is a shortage of specialists able to effectively teach this subject. Previous evaluations of patient educators have yielded mixed results. AIMS: The aim of this study is to document how teaching by patient educators and physician tutors in MSK PE skills differs. METHODS: A qualitative researcher observed, video-recorded, and took notes during preclerkship MSK PE teaching sessions given by patient educators or physician tutors. The researcher identified themes which were evaluated by collective case study methods. RESULTS: Two patient educator and four physician groups were evaluated. The patient educators were more consistent regarding content and style than the physicians. There appeared to be a continuum in teaching organization from patient educator to novice physician tutors to experienced physician tutors. The patient educators consistently covered all major joints (physicians did not); physicians were more likely to request verbalization of actions, relate findings to history, receive questions, and use opportunistic teaching moments. CONCLUSIONS: Understanding preclerkship MSK teaching by patient educators compared to physician tutors is necessary for appropriate targeting of the existing Patient Partners® in Arthritis patient educator program and to guide the development of future MSK teaching initiatives.
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Oswald et al examined how teaching was different between patient educators and physician educators when teaching MSK physical examination skills.
“Oswald et al examined how teaching was different between patient educators and physician educators when teaching MSK physical examination skills.58”
From Role of active patient involvement in undergraduate medical education: a systematic review (2020) · cites this paper as [58]
Video recordings show that trained patient educators were more consistent in content and style by consistently covering all major joints.
“Video recordings show that trained patient educators were more consistent in content and style by consistently covering all major joints.”
From Role of active patient involvement in undergraduate medical education: a systematic review (2020) · cites this paper as [58]
Some initiatives chose to work in partnership with existing institutions, implemented at a school-wide level or focused on one condition such as arthritis.
“Some initiatives chose to work in partnership with existing institutions, implemented at a school-wide level45 or focused on one condition such as arthritis.58”
From Role of active patient involvement in undergraduate medical education: a systematic review (2020) · cites this paper as [58]
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- Authors
- Oswald, A. E., Wiseman, J., Bell, M. J., & Snell, L.
- Affiliations
- University of Alberta (CA)
- McGill University (CA)
- University of Toronto (CA)
- Corresponding author
- Oswald, Anna E.
- Venue
- Medical Teacher
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2011-04-25
- Volume
- 33
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- e227-e235
- ISSN
- 0142-159X (ISSN-L)
- 1466-187X
- OpenAlex
- W2149093441
- Cited by
- 23
- References
- 28
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 1 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 2 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 2 · 2014: 1 · 2013: 2 · 2012: 3
- FWCI
- 2.25
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Medical Teacher (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Pfizer
- McGill University
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Rehabilitation › Musculoskeletal Disorders and Rehabilitation
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Innovations in Medical Education
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Anatomy and Medical Technology
- Keywords
- patient educators, medical education, patient education, arthritis, patient partners, teaching styles, joint examination
- MeSH terms
- Clinical Competence, Communication, Education, Medical, Undergraduate, Faculty, Medical, Humans, Musculoskeletal Diseases, Physical Examination, Teaching, Cohort Studies
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