Reflective writing

Tips & Common themes students write about

Write down what you did and how you felt. What went well and what could be better.
Explore a range of themes (see below).
Including perspectives from the patient, students, doctors and working in teams (learning team).
Consider including external sources of information to refer to eg articles, GMC guidance or student handbooks. For example, these recommend we have a holistic approach to consultations. How does that compare and fit with your experience of patients?
Reflecting on virtual placements. Example how does it feel to learn online, meet your group, meeting patients and tutors. Are there any areas that the students can make better and how can tutors help? Virtual encounters and how this relates to verbal and non-verbal communication skills. Consider if virtual placements are interactive and if this engages you.

Disease and illness: causation, being holistic

GP and the doctor: trust, doctor-patient relationship, teams, social determinants of health, cultural issues, stigma, compassion, listening

Professionalism and identity formation

Meeting patients: interviewing, questions, being holistic, psychosocial issues, ICE and red flags.

Learning as individuals and groups: case presentation, participation, feeling safe, trying something new, types of knowledge, power

Virtual learning:

Learning about medicine: practice versus theory

Expectations and setbacks

Thinking and diagnosing

Workload and prioritisation

Well-being