“My way of giving something back”: Patient and carer experiences of involvement in medical education

Abstract

This article was migrated. The article was marked as recommended. BackgroundPatient involvement initiatives in medical education traditionally focus exclusively on the rationale, need, and potential benefits to learners in developing patient-centred practice. ObjectivesThis study explores the impact of involvement on patient educators working in medical education. MethodA mixed methods approach was used to generate data for content analysis. Participants completed a questionnaire (n= 49) and were then invited for a follow-up interview (n=20), both methods explored views on involvement, motives for taking part and the impact involvement has had on their lives. ResultsParticipants reported that they valued opportunities to take part in medical education. This provided a means to reflect on their health condition and patient experience; had perceived and real benefits for their health and wellbeing and provided an opportunity to educate students in ways which participants felt had wide-ranging benefits.ConclusionsThere is a need to further develop theoretical understandings of patient involvement in medical education. In adopting a Bourdieuian analysis of involvement the results of this study suggest there is a need both to prepare patient educators for involvement and to provide on-going support to enable individuals to realise the benefits of involvement, which are not automatic.