Students' satisfaction and perceptions of attending physicians' and residents' teaching role

BACKGROUND: Changes in the health care system imply that fewer patients will be admitted to hospitals and attending physicians will be devoting more time to clinical activities with less time for student education. METHODS: Surveys of third-year students were conducted for 5 consecutive years at Jefferson Medical College at the end of the required 6-week surgical clerkship at the university hospital or at one of the eight affiliates. RESULTS: The numbers of new inpatients and outpatients encountered by students were not significantly related to students' overall satisfaction. The ratings of teaching rounds and conferences were significant predictors of satisfaction with the clerkship, as were the ratings of residents' teaching. CONCLUSIONS: As medical education shifts to ambulatory settings, didactic teaching such as rounds and conferences should be maintained and efforts to enhance the teaching skills of residents should be encouraged. (C) 1998 by Excerpta Medica, Inc.