Final-Year Students’ Experiential Learnings in Family Medicine at the University of Cape Town

Abstract

To evaluate student learnings in family medicine at UCT a qualitative analysis of patient-reports submitted by final-year students after four week block instruction has been done. One hundred and forty six patient-reports submitted by students in 1995 were analysed for evidence of patient-triggered reflective learnings in family medicine. Such learnings were identified, coded and categorized by theme. Most students reported appreciable, sometimes profound, learnings from their interaction with patients in urban polyclinics. Qualitative analysis of students’ patient-studies at UCT revealed clear evidence of patient-triggered learnings in family medicine and demonstrated the value to students of being required to reflect on and write about their interactions with patients.