Introduction:

Communication is an essential skill in medical curricula and crucial in patient-centered care models. Resident experience is fundamental in medical training. These experiences offer teacher-student-patient interactions where students learn about doctor-patient communication directly from their preceptors. The objective of the study was to understand doctor-teacher communication during clinical practices in an undergraduate medical program.

Methodology:

Qualitative research undertaken from the interpretive framework of Symbolic Interactionism andanalysis under Grounded Theory guidelines. Fifteen (15) clinical-course medical doctors were interviewed. The interviews were recorded, transcribed, and coded by meaning units.

Results:

Different student views emerged, including student interest in student-patient communicative aspects as well as their own thoughts on teaching. Teachers are aware of their role as models in student learning; they see patients as vulnerable, generous, grateful people that represent the most valuable asset in their teaching endeavor; with them, teachers develop their dual mission, that is, solving health-related problems and teaching.

Discussion and conclusions:

During their interaction with students and patients, teachers transform an essentially instructional and disciplined practice into one centered on the patient and their needs. The stress doctors face when addressing the medical task itself versus their desire to teach is compounded by curriculum guidelines and health agency norms. This is, in fact, part of the hidden curriculum that influences student learning