New program aims to help doctors relate better to their patients

New program aims to help doctors relate better to their patients

Medical education is taking a new direction in Queensland with a University program to help future doctors relate better to their patients.

The Building Partnerships Program involves the University of Queensland's Department of Social and Preventive Medicine and 60 community organisations that provide support to a wide range of people with disability or chronic illness.

Under the program, third-year medical students spend about 40 hours in eight weeks working with a community organisation. The experience allows the students an insight into the day-to-day problems faced by people with disabilities and other health problems and gives them an opportunity to assist the organisation in some practical way.

Lecturer in Behavioural Science, Dr Fran Boyle, said the program had received positive feedback from both students and participating organisations and in many cases had led to mutual benefits.

"The overall goal is to develop and strengthen links between the Graduate School of Medicine and the community - and in doing so, we are helping to produce doctors who are better able to communicate and relate to their patients," she said.

"Students are telling us they have much more empathy with people because they are witnessing the psychological and social issues associated with a wide range of health conditions and disabilities. In some cases, students have become so interested and involved in the work of a particular organisation that they have continued their association with them after the program has finished."

Dr Boyle said one group of students had produced a brochure for use in hospitals throughout Queensland providing guidelines for staff who may need to discuss the sensitive issue of autopsy with recently bereaved parents. In another project, two students have developed a resource publication for GPs to use when referring disabled patients to support services.

The program's benefits for future doctors is summed by third year medical student, Adrian Cheng: "I had the good fortune to spend a weekend at a camp for children with disabilities. I cannot put into words the joy these kids brought me. They changed the way I view disability of any kind forever."

The University of Queensland was named Australian University of the Year in 1998 and is a recognised leader in medical and health-related research and teaching.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Fran Boyle telephone 3240 5816