"Family medicine residents: how do patients view them?"

Abstract

Background: Family Medicine residency programmes are essential for training competent physicians. Patients generally view the involvement of family medicine residents in their care positively, but there is a gap in understanding residents' roles and training levels.

Objectives: Evaluate patients' perceptions when consulting family medicine residents.

Methods: Conducted in nine teaching Family Health Units in Portugal, 314 patients who had both consultations with their family doctor and a resident participated. They completed an anonymous 33-question self-administered questionnaire divided into seven sections with multiple-choice and 5-point Likert scale questions. Data included socio-demographic information, knowledge about residents' training, perceptions of residents' communication skills, confidence, satisfaction, and strategies to improve adherence to consultations with residents. Likert questions were scored from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree).

Results: Approximately 71.9% of participants knew that a resident had completed their medical degree, and 77.5% correctly identified residents as doctors in training. Patients rated residents' communication skills highly (mean score: 4.9 ± 0.5) and expressed high confidence (4.3 ± 0.5) and satisfaction (4.6 ± 0.6). Most participants (64.9%) reported no disadvantages in consulting a resident, with the primary advantage being their contribution to the training of future family doctors (80.9%). Key strategies for improving adherence included the family doctor introducing the resident and discussing the treatment plan together.

Conclusion: Patients generally have positive perceptions of family medicine residents, trust their decisions, and are satisfied with their involvement. Introducing residents and involving family doctors in consultations can enhance adherence, emphasising the importance of the family doctor-patient-resident triad in primary healthcare.