Patient-led learning day boosts rheumatology confidence for final year medics

Our final-year medical students had an invaluable opportunity to deepen their understanding of a wide range of rheumatology conditions recently through a direct patient interaction day of teaching.

Rheumatology consultants from Warwick Hospital (SWFT) and University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire (UHCW) joined forces with the Phase 3 team, offering students the chance to explore complex rheumatological conditions, practise history-taking, and carry out examinations on patients with conditions not commonly seen in routine clinics.

Consultant Rheumatologist Dr Jonathan Pinnell from Warwick Hospital, the new Musculoskeletal Lead for Warwick Medical School, had the foresight to bring the patients out of the clinical environment into the educational environment to enhance the students' learning experience. Dr Pinnell led the organisation and running of the day with his team from SWFT.

While rheumatology is taught throughout all phases of the MB ChB curriculum, the chance to speak directly with patients and examine real clinical signs has made a profound impact. Students reported that this hands-on experience strengthened their knowledge, deepened understanding, and helped consolidate years of learning.

One student shared:“This day worked so well. We were able to practise history-taking, examination, and see real patient signs. It really helped incorporate and consolidate our learning.”

One of the visiting patients said: "I felt empowered being able to support the next generation of doctors and to give something back."