The web-informed patients – Innovative training module for medical students to improve internet-based communication with gynecological patients

Background: The number of patients using the internet to access and collect health information and medical advice will increase in the future. Thus the contact and communication between doctors and patients is influenced by increasing patient awareness and self-diagnosis. Medical students should be trained to manage this new challenge in the future.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to design and scientifically evaluate a new internet based training module for medical students to prepare them to communicate effectively with web-informed patients.

Material and methods: Medical students: At the University of Tuebingen all medical students of the 3 rd clinical semester were requested to communicate with virtual gynecological patients during their lecture period in gynecology and obstetrics.

(1) Medical students had to communicate with virtual gynecological patients in a simulated online forum and had to learn how to develop their answers to special designed questions, without the time pressure of a face to face encounter (search of relevant literature, critical appraisal of information).

(2) In a more complex situation of a consultation students also had to deal web-informed gynecological patients with different health conceptions and lay knowledge.

Data: The students' acceptance of simulation, their progress in knowledge and in communication skills were evaluated by questionnaires and by qualitative analysis of the given answers. Results will be reported.

Conclusion: Medical students who are trained to consider their patients' biased knowledge acquisition can communicate more successfully with them.