The effect of giving information in advance on the clinical training of medical students.

OBJECTIVE

To study whether or not giving written information in advance influences patients' willingness to participate in the clinical training of medical students.

SETTING

Dermatology surgery at a university hospital.

METHODS AND PARTICIPANTS

Prior to the visit, patients were randomly allocated either to receive a letter about medical education (the experiment group), or not to receive a letter (the control group).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

The willingness of patients to participate in clinical training.

RESULTS

There was no difference between the 2 groups regarding their willingness to participate. Almost all patients perceived the provided information as good or rather good, but some patients, especially in the control group, did not feel free to refuse to participate.

CONCLUSION

The present written-information-in-advance strategy seems to prevent patients from feeling forced to participate, without having any negative influence on their inclination to participate.