Table 5 Student Comments on the Curriculum from Reflection Papers and Post-Survey

Appreciated “independence”/ “being a doctor”

“I liked having to ‘come up with everything’. Sometimes in the rush, it’s hard for attendings to have the time to let students talk through/present a whole plan. I think being able to do that was really useful.”

"The whole experience was great for me. At the end of these encounters I didn’t feel like I was ‘playing doctor,’ I felt as if I was the doctor.”

Recognized the significance of continuity of care

“I feel continuity is the best part about family medicine and having the opportunity to follow patients and their families over years is a very valuable and appealing aspect of family medicine, not only for personal relationships but also to deliver the best care possible to your patients.”

“The [curriculum] enhanced the outpatient experience somewhat by allowing us to experience a continuity of care that we would normally not be able to see in the time given for the clerkship….I never really understood the significance of it until I started working in an outpatient setting. Sometimes at the office, I would find myself wondering how nice it would be to see a patient improve after I saw him, and then realize that I would not even be around for his follow-up. The [curriculum] let me see the same patient over a period of time and vary care based on their needs, and I appreciate that all the more now knowing how rare it is for that to happen as a medical student.”

“As I’ve gone through this exercise I’ve found it easier and easier to talk to and connect with my patient-this is the first time that I’ve personally felt how rewarding continuity of care can be. Not only did I feel like my patient trusted and liked me, I also felt confident in my ability to care for her.”

Appreciation for patient relationships

“I think that was the best part of the exercise, developing a relationship of trust and friendship with the patient.”

“I liked making a connection and forming a relationship with my patient…The more you know them and the more comfortable they feel with you, the easier it will be to treat them and keep them healthy.”

Appreciation for primary care as a career

“Over all this experience was a wonderful example of continuity of care. I can honestly say that I have never had an interest in pursuing a career in family medicine before this rotation. After this experience and learning more about the vast skills family medicine practitioners can practice regularly I can see myself becoming seriously interested in this field.”

Reflection on what was learned

“It helped me understand how to become comfortable with the patients and how to really listen to their needs.”

“The most important thing in my opinion was the practice in establishing a relationship, managing medical problems, and being able to multitask to deal with many issues as once.”

“I feel this experience has taught me a great deal about caring for and treating a complex patient.”

Overall value of curriculum

“I enjoyed taking care of the same patient in multiple visits. It was a unique experience that I am not accustomed to.”

“The [curriculum] is one of the best parts of this rotation.”

“This experience will be one that I can take far beyond the scope of this clerkship.”