As part of medical training, patients are often invited to cooperate by allowing student observation of their medical examination. How do patients feel in this situation? To discuss the psychological meanings assigned to this experience we used the clinical-qualitative study method on an intentional sample of 10 patients from a teaching hospital, using in-depth semi-directed interviews. The results were interpreted according to concepts of Medical Psychology. We found that patients have an ambiguous relationship regarding the students. For example, the presence of students sometimes strengthens the doctor-patient-team relationship, but sometimes might undermine it. Student presence is important due to the bond generated, but students may act indecisively when dealing with certain situations. The social constructions within a teaching hospital differ to those in other hospitals, since in the former the patients also act as an educational agents. Some patients are aware of this dynamic albeit without it being systemized, whereas others display no such social awareness.
Medical Education; Teaching Rounds; Teaching Hospitals; Qualitative Research; Medical History Taking