ABSTRACT
Current trends in medical education include early patient contact. Students observe interactions between health professionals and patients from year one of their studies and are usually asked to interview patients. At this stage in their training the empha sis is on communication and information gathering rather than the more formalised and structured history taking that they learn in later years. The intelligent young peo ple who enter medical school and the other health professions' training are already articulate, though some may be lacking in confidence. Early exposure to the patient experience and communication skills sessions should help students to talk to patients in a professional manner, while stressing the need for listening to patients' stories and developing empathy from an understanding of what it is like to be ill and/or be receiv ing healthcare.
