“Talk to Your Doc”: an outreach by medical students to high school students Angela Towle & William Godolphin Division of Health Care Communication & Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Canada Supported by The Vancouver School Board, The Hamber Foundation, British Columbia Lung Association, MDS Metro Laboratory Services

“Talk to Your Doc” A workshop for high school students facilitated by medical students. Purpose To help adolescents develop independent and active relationships with their doctor.

Initiated and developed by medical students. Needs assessment survey: 433 students from 8 schools in diverse Vancouver communities. Medical students develop the workshop Developing the Workshop Workshops based on greatest ‘needs’:  importance of good communication  talking about difficult problems  confidentiality  how to find or change doctors.

Medical student facilitators Conduct workshops with minimum of support. Develop workshop facilitator kits. Train junior colleagues as facilitators. High credibility with adolescents and teachers. Medical students are role models

The Workshop Skit on adolescent-doctor communication Opening skit Brainstorming Problem solving Role play After the opening skit, small group activities

Grade 12 students’ experiences “The discussions were very open and made me think more about my doctor. The presenters were VERY good at what they did.” “The scenarios gave us a chance to practice speaking to our own doctors” “I like the workshop because it improves my confidence in asking questions.” Students practice asking questions

“I ran into one of the students...after we had given our presentation … and was thrilled to hear that she was going to be thinking about it next time she visits her doctor, and trying to incorporate some of the communication skills...To me, there could have been no better affirmation that our objectives were achieved.” 1st year student Medical students after a workshop. Medical students’ experiences “[Talk to Your Doc] has provided the medical students with an opportunity to enhance their own communication skills. It can sometimes be very challenging speaking with adolescents, and the more practice through programs such as this one the better physicians we will be in the future.” Vice President, Medical Undergraduate Society

1999: 3 workshops 3 schools 58 students 15 facilitators 2000: 7 workshops 4 schools 140 students 33 facilitators 2001: 15 workshops 4 schools 390 students 42 facilitators Workshop statistics

Working with the community Workshops meet needs Grounded in adolescents’ needs. Fit Vancouver School Board Career and Personal Planning curriculum objectives. Partnership with School Board Teachers involved. Steering group includes adolescents, teachers, medical students. Finance.

Outcomes Acceptable 4to adolescents, teachers, medical students and school board. Do-able 4medical students find it useful and they facilitate workshops with a minimum of support. 4schedule suits schools and medical students. Effective 4anecdotal evidence. oobjective evaluation. Sustainable 4facilitators train-the-trainers. 4on-going funding. “[When I saw my doctor after the workshop] I tried to ask more questions and tried to get the doctor to explain more about why I needed to take a specific medicine, what are the side-effects...” Grade 12 student

Model for a community health care intervention A way to address high rates of teenage pregnancy. Rationale: better communication means adolescents will feel more competent and comfortable in talking about sexual matters and seeking contraceptive advice.