Accepted Type
Oral
Code
OB1-3-2
Was this work accepted for CCME 2020?
yes
Category
General Call (Workshop, Oral Presentation, Poster Presentation)
Type
Oral
Sub Type
Education Innovation
Will the presenter be a:
Other
Presenter Other
Faculty and clinician
Affiliation
Considered for Poster
yes
Title
Humanism in Surgery - Developing a Patient as Teacher Initiative in Surgical Clerkship
Length of Presentation
Background/Purpose
Patient as Teacher (PAT) programs offer an approach to education that recognizes patient expertise and engages patients in the medical education process. Sharing patient experiences through narratives can create learning and understanding that encourages meaningful dialogue and partnerships between patients and providers. Despite increased adoption in medical education, PAT programs have not been studied sufficiently in the context of surgery.
Summary of the Innovation
We report findings from the development and evaluation of a newly established PAT program at University of Toronto. Integrated into third year surgery clerkship, the program consists of 3 interactive workshops with 4 different breast cancer survivors and creation of an arts-based reflection. To explore students' experiences, 5 focus groups with 46 students were conducted at rotation's end. Students reflected on overall program experience, including its impact on their educational practices and identity. Transcripts were analyzed using thematic analysis involving an iterative process of inductively coding data and organizing codes into relevant thematic categories. Students valued protected time to learn directly from the patients, slowing down and focusing on the human side of surgical care and from hearing the experiences the "less victorious" narratives. They learnt the significance of the "the little things" in patient-provider interactions, further developed an appreciation for the individuality of experiences despite the same disease and finally the impact of breast cancer on a person's identity and life.
Conclusion
The PAT program successfully promoted and fostered the humanistic side of surgery and is a model that could be incorporated into surgical clerkships throughout Canada.
Keyword 1
Patient as Teacher
Keyword 2
Narrative
Keyword 3
Curriculum
Level of Training
Undergraduate
Abstract Themes
Teaching and learning
Additional Theme (First choice)
Undergraduate
Additional Theme (Second Choice)
Additional Theme (Third Choice)
Authors
Presenter
Jory Simpson
Term 1
Yes
Term 2
Yes
Term 3
Yes
Term 4
Yes
Term 5
Yes
