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Learning and teaching
Medical student interactions with children in their daily lives
  1. Penelope Uther1,2,
  2. Johanna Thomson3,
  3. Adam William Bartlett4,5,
  4. Sean E Kennedy5,6
  1. 1 Paediatrics, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, New South Wales, Australia
  2. 2 Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
  3. 3 Paediatric Learning Initiative, Médecins sans Frontières, Paris, France
  4. 4 Infectious Diseases, Sydney Children's Hospital Randwick, Randwick, New South Wales, Australia
  5. 5 School of Clinical Medicine, Discipline of Paediatrics, UNSW, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
  6. 6 Nephrology, Sydney Children's Hospital Randwick, Randwick, New South Wales, Australia
  1. Correspondence to Dr Penelope Uther; penelope.uther{at}health.nsw.gov.au

Abstract

Learning to communicate effectively with children in clinical interactions can be challenging. This study aimed to determine the extent to which medical students are exposed to children in their daily lives, in order to understand the experience students bring when entering paediatric rotations.

Methods A cross-sectional survey of medical students entering paediatric rotations from two medical schools was conducted. Students were asked to rate the frequency of their interactions with infants, preschool-aged and school-aged children and their confidence in doing so.

Results 339 out of 476 students participated in this study. Interactions with infants and preschool-aged children were rare, with most students reporting interactions once or two times per year or less (83% and 67%, respectively). Students interacted with school-aged children more frequently (43% most weeks or days). Students who interacted more frequently with children were more confident when entering their paediatric placements.

Conclusions Medical students have limited exposure to infants and preschool-aged children in their daily lives and this affects their confidence. Supervisors should incorporate activities aimed at building confidence interacting with young children early in clinical attachments.

  • Paediatrics
  • Child Health

Data availability statement

Data are available on reasonable request. Survey results are available on reasonable request to PU.

https://doi.org/10.1136/archdischild-2022-324750

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    Data availability statement

    Data are available on reasonable request. Survey results are available on reasonable request to PU.

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    Footnotes

    • Contributors This study was designed by PU, AWB and SEK. Data were collected by PU and JT. Data were analysed by PU, supported by SK. The paper was drafted by PU with inputs and revisions by SEK, AWB and JT.

    • Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

    • Competing interests None declared.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.