Cross-cultural perspectives on the patient-provider relationship: a qualitative study exploring reflections from Ghanaian medical students following a clinical rotation in the United States

BMC Medical Education

Research Article

Joseph C. Kolars¹  Timothy R. B. Johnson²  Cheryl A. Moyer³  Sandra Danso-Bamfo⁴  Peter Donkor⁵  Kwabena A. Danso⁵  Nauzley C. Abedini⁶ 

[1] Department of Internal Medicine and Global REACH, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA;Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA;Departments of Learning Health Sciences and Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA;Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA;School of Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana;University of Washington Internal Medicine Residency Program, Seattle, WA, USA;

关键词: International partnerships;    Patient-provider relationship;    Patient-provider communication;    Global health;    Humanism in medicine;    Clinical electives;    Medical education;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12909-015-0444-9

 received in 2015-05-02, accepted in 2015-09-21,  发布年份 2015

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundIn international health experiences, learners are exposed to different culturally-based patient care models. Little is known about student perceptions of patient-provider interactions when they travel from low-to high-resource settings. The purpose of this study was to explore these reflections among a subset of Ghanaian medical students who participated in clinical rotations at the University of Michigan Medical School (UMMS).MethodsIn-depth, semi-structured interviews lasting 60–90 min were conducted with 15 individuals who had participated in 3-to 4-week clinical rotations at UMMS between January 2008 and December 2011. Interviews were conducted from March to August 2012 and transcribed verbatim, then independently coded by three investigators. Investigators compared open codes and reached a consensus regarding major themes.ResultsParticipating Ghanaian medical students reported that their perspectives of the patient-provider relationship were significantly affected by participation in a UMMS rotation. Major thematic areas included: (1) observations of patient care during the UMMS rotation, including patient comfort and privacy, physician behavior toward patients, and patient behavior; (2) reflections on the role of humanism and respect within patient care; (3) barriers to respectful care; and (4) transformation of student behaviors and attitudes. Students also reported integrating more patient-centered care into their own medical practice upon return to GhanaDiscussionParticipation in a US-based clinical rotation has the potential to introduce medical students from resource-limited settings to a different paradigm of patient-provider interactions, which may impact their future behavior and perspectives regarding patient care in their home countries.ConclusionsStudents from under-resourced settings can derive tremendous value from participation in clinical electives in more affluent settings, namely through exposure to a different type of medical care.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© Abedini et al. 2015