Box 1.

Description of StudentPEP.

The StudentPEP tool is a 15-item version of EUROPEP which is a validated and reliable tool for measuring patients’ evaluation of quality in general practice. The teacher and student forms consisted mainly of open-ended questions concerning what was good and what might have been better on taking a history, performing a clinical examination, assessment and plan, but also included four of the 15 items with measures that could be compared with scores from patients (thoroughness, involving patient in decisions, explaining the purpose of tests and treatments, and physical examination). A global score for the whole consultation was added. The forms were completed after each of five teacher-observed consultations together with a patient evaluation.

The patient form included 15 original items from EUROPEP and a global score

What is your opinion of the medical student regarding… Making you feel you had time during the consultation? Interest in your personal situation? Making it easy for you to tell him about your problem? Involving you in decisions about your medical care? Listening to you? Quick relief of your symptoms? Helping you to feel well so that you can perform your normal daily activities? Thoroughness? Physical examination of you? Explaining the purpose of tests and treatments? Telling you what you want to know about your symptoms and/or illness? Helping you deal with emotional problems related to your health status? Helping you understand the importance of following his or her advice? Preparing you for what to expect from specialist or hospital care?

Global score I can recommend my doctor to have this student working here as a substitute doctor.