From Paternalism to Partnership: The 300-Year Journey in Letting Patients Finish a Sentence

EMS300 Student Conference 2026

Slide 1: Edinburgh Medical School 300 Student Conference 2026. A full description follows.

Summary

The slide deck presents findings from the Edinburgh Medical School 300 Student Conference 2026, focusing on the evolution of patient-physician interactions from paternalism to shared decision-making. It highlights the importance of communication in medical practice, revealing insights from semi-structured interviews with general practitioners. Key findings indicate that patients are increasingly informed and demanding, with younger patients preferring collaborative discussions, while older patients often seek directive advice. The challenges of implementing shared decision-making, including time constraints and patient demographics, are also addressed.