The perceptions and experiences of medical students in a pediatric buddy program: a qualitative study

Abstract

Background Partnership programs between medical students and patients provide students with non-clinical experiences that enhance medical learning, especially with respect to humanistic care. We explored the perceptions and experiences of medical students in a pediatric oncology buddy program. Methods Using a basic interpretive qualitative approach, we conducted interviews with 15 medical students at three time points: before meeting his/her buddy (pre-interview), four months into the partnership (4-month interview), and at the end of the partnership (post interview). We then conducted a thematic analysis of the interview data. Results All students in the program who met the study criteria (N = 15/16) participated. The medical students highlighted that: (a) providing support to buddies and their families is important; (b) providing care to children with serious illnesses is emotionally difficult; (c) developing deep connections with buddies and their families is rewarding; and (d) gaining empathy and personal fulfillment from buddies and their families is inevitable. Conclusions This study provides an understanding of medical students’ perceptions and experiences in a pediatric oncology, non-clinical buddy program. Tailored one-on-one partnerships between medical students and pediatric oncology patients play an important role in medical education and contributes to the teaching of humanistic care.

Afghan medical students’ perceptions, and experiences of their medical education and their professional intentions: a cross-sectional study

“…However, 8.2% expressed their concern about the quality of medical education. Parallel studies conducted on medical students in diverse developing countries show mixed results on the quality of the tendered medical education [9,[11][12][13]. We argue that students' judgment may lack a standardized model of comparison.…”