The effect of ward round teaching on patients: The health team and the patients’ perspectives

INTRODUCTION: Holding bedside round teaching and involving patients in the teaching of the students might lead to patients’ dissatisfaction. This study was carried out in order to find the viewpoints of the patients and the medical team about the effect of clinical round on patients hospitalized in Isfahan University of Medical Sciences. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study is of cross-sectional descriptive type which is carried out in Isfahan University of Medical Sciences using researcher-made tools. The statistical population included the hospitalized patients, interns, residents, and nurses of the internal wards of educational hospitals. In this study, 110 patients and 150 health team staff are participated. The analysis of the data was done through software Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) 11.5 and descriptive and inferential statistics were applied. Statistical analysis of the variance did not show any significant difference among the interns’, nurses’, and residents’ perception of patient's satisfaction. RESULTS: Generally, the patients had a positive viewpoint toward things happening during a round, whereas the medical team's viewpoint was negative. In both groups, the highest satisfaction average pertained to the number of times and the duration of visits, but both groups believed that lack of a definite responsible medical doctor, feeling of insecurity during the incongruous and unclear discussions, and the level of respect for the patient were the causes of dissatisfaction with the clinical round process. CONCLUSION: The current method of clinical rounds can result in patients’ dissatisfaction. On the other hand, proper relationship with them leads to the development of a more positive attitude in them. Therefore, revision and correction of the current clinical round procedures and teaching the communication skills to the medical team could help improve this process.