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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
medicine
Muslim women and medical students in the clinical encounter: Patient involvement in medical education
Medical Education, Volume 44, No. 3, Year 2010
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Description
Context Increasingly, male medical students report being refused by female patients, particularly in obstetrics and gynaecology, which is impacting on recruitment into the discipline. However, little has been documented in terms of Muslim patients and medical students in the clinical consultation. Methods Female Emirati nationals (n = 218) attending out-patient clinics at a public hospital in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates (UAE), were interviewed by medical students. Participants were provided with four hypothetical clinical scenarios (three personal, one concerning a pre-pubertal child) and asked whether they would allow male and female students to be present at a consultation, take a history or perform an examination. They were also canvassed about their past experiences with medical students and their social responsibility to contribute towards the training of Emirati doctors. Results Significant differences were recorded in terms of female versus male student involvement for all activities (P < 0.05-0.0005). For gynaecological and abdominal problems, patients would generally refuse male students. More than 50% of interviewees would not allow a male student to examine their face. Students of either gender could, however, examine their 8-year-old child. Although 47% of the women had had previous clinical encounters with students, in only 58% of consultations had the attending doctor asked their permission. Despite this, the women had generally felt comfortable, although satisfaction decreased with increasing age (P = 0.088). Almost 90% of the women believed that Emiratis had a social responsibility to contribute towards the training of Emirati doctors, but this decreased with increasing income (P = 0.004). Conclusions As many medical students will encounter Muslim patients during their training, they need to be sensitive to religious and cultural issues, particularly for personal examinations. In contexts where most patients are Muslim, alternative options (e.g. manikins, international rotations) may be required for male students. In the UAE, patient education may improve history-taking opportunities but will probably not transcend religious and cultural beliefs without intervention from religious leaders. © Blackwell Publishing Ltd 2010.
Authors & Co-Authors
McLean, Michelle M.
United Arab Emirates, Al Ain
United Arab Emirates University
Al Ahbabi, Salma
United Arab Emirates, Al Ain
United Arab Emirates University
Al-Ameri, Mouza M.
United Arab Emirates, Al Ain
United Arab Emirates University
Al Mansoori, Muneera
United Arab Emirates, Al Ain
United Arab Emirates University
Al Yahyaei, Fatima
United Arab Emirates, Al Ain
United Arab Emirates University
Bernsen, Roos M.D.(Roos)
United Arab Emirates, Al Ain
United Arab Emirates University
Statistics
Citations: 51
Authors: 6
Affiliations: 1
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1111/j.1365-2923.2009.03599.x
e-ISSN:
13652923
Research Areas
Health System And Policy
Maternal And Child Health
Sexual And Reproductive Health
Study Design
Randomised Control Trial
Participants Gender
Male
Female