Obtaining patient permission for student participation in obstetric-gynecologic outpatient visits: A randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVES: Our purpose was to compare a scripted verbal query with a detailed written permission slip in obtaining patient satisfaction and permission for student involvement in outpatient obstetrics-gynecologic visits. STUDY DESIGN: A prospective, randomized, controlled study was performed using a questionnaire to compare current practice to the study groups. The χ ² test was used to calculate P values; P < .05 was considered significant. RESULTS: Patient demographics and satisfaction were similar among the three groups: 86% of controls and 79% of study groups agreed to student participation (P = .056). All preferred having the nurse ask permission (86% vs 86%) versus the physician (34% vs 25%) or the student (6% vs 3%). Permission was independent of student gender, visit purpose, or previous exposure to students. CONCLUSION: Patients want a nonphysician to ask permission for student participation independent of method of request, visit purpose, student gender, or previous experience with students. Physician or student requests for consent may unduly influence participation.