How do patients experience their participation in medical lessons? â?? a study of patients with tobacco-related diseases taking part in a lecture on smoking prevention to younger adolescents

Abstract

Jens A. Leifert, Christoph Göhr, Mirjam Elze, Thomas Unbehaun, Andreas Jähne

Patient participation is common in lectures on medical topics. However, very little is known about the impact of the lecture on the participating patient. We evaluated the psychological effects on patients with tobacco-related diseases of being interviewed in a lecture on smoking prevention given to 6th to 8th grade students by using a multiple-choice questionnaire. We found a high level of satisfaction with participating in a lecture and a low level of pre-lesson anxiety in our patients. A preparatory talk between interviewer and patient was rated as important by most of the patients. A high proportion of the patients felt that it was the right decision to participate and that they would participate again. Participation in a medical lesson may be a vulnerable moment for the patient where feelings of protection and safety provided by the interviewer are very important. In a preparatory talk a trusting atmosphere should be created in order to increase the willingness of the patient to offer personal information. Furthermore the assurance of protection against embarrassing questions is an essential part of the interviewerâ??s role