People Living with HIV as Instructors for Medical Students: A Pilot Study in HIV Counseling and Testing Pages 10-15

Denise Jaworsky, Derek Chew, Julie G. Thorne, Carly Morin, Nancy McNaughton, Greg Downer, Suzanne Paddock, Rick Lees and Anita Rachlis

Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, 1 King’s College Circle, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada; Toronto People With AIDS Foundation, 200 Gerrard St. E., 2nd Floor, Toronto, ON, M5A 2E6, Canada

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.12970/2309-0529.2014.02.01.2

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Abstract: Many gaps exist in HIV medical education. In response, medical students initiated a study involving people living with HIV as Patient Instructors for medical students in an HIV counseling and testing simulated clinical encounter. Four medical students, four clinical preceptors and five Patient Instructors participated in a series of simulated clinical encounters. Students performed pre-test counseling, point-of-care HIV testing and delivered test results with post-test counseling to Patient Instructors under preceptor supervision. Preceptors and Patient Instructors provided feedback to students. Focus groups were conducted to evaluate this initiative. Patient Instructors found they could meaningfully contribute to medical education, felt safe, and relived past experiences in a more positive way. Students valued individual feedback. Both groups found the experience a realistic and worthwhile learning exercise that enhanced skills beyond HIV medicine. With considerations to minimize vulnerability, Patient Instructors can be valuable learning resources, benefiting both learners and instructors.

Keywords: Medical education, community-based participatory research, HIV counseling, patient instructors, simulated clinical encounters. Read more →