Talk to Your Doc (TTYD)

TTYD is a volunteer outreach program in which UBC medical students help high school students to develop an independent relationship with their doctor and take an active role in their health care. 

The program began in 1998 in Vancouver with a grant from the Hamber Foundation and later expanded with the medical school to Prince George (2005), Victoria (2005) and Kelowna (2012). Between 1999 and 2017 TTYD reached over 10,000 high school students through 350 workshops. A comprehensive evaluation funded by the Canadian Council on Learning was completed in 2008.   

Links: 

• Towle A, Godolphin W, Van Staalduinen S. Enhancing the relationship and improving communication between adolescents and their health care providers: A school based intervention by medical students. Patient Education and Counseling 2006; 62: 189-192.
• Towle A, Godolphin W, Van Staalduinen S, Overgaard V. “Talk to Your Doc”. Helping adolescents make health care transitions. Education Canada 2005; 45(2): 29-30. 
• Canadian Council on Learning (CCL) Evaluation Report, 2008

‘Talking with Your Doctor’ workshops aim to help citizens, especially seniors, mental health clients and stroke recovery patients, communicate more effectively with their doctors. Workshops are based on the PACE framework developed by Dr Donald Cegala at the University of Ohio. The centerpiece of the workshops are trigger videos in which patients use the PACE framework to resolve a common doctor-patient communication problem. The workshop was adopted by The Patient Voices Network, Langara College School of Nursing and various community groups across the Lower Mainland of BC. Workshop development was supported by the UBC Faculty of Medicine Summer Student Research Program and Vancouver Foundation (2000-2003).

Links to publications:

• Booklet: "Talking With Your Doctor... and other Healthcare Professionals". by Donald J. Cegala.  Modified, with permission, for a project of the Patient Voices Network and UBC Division of Health Care Communication.
• Manual: P.A.C.E Manual for Facilitators

Links to videos:

• Sandy Lewis & Dr Wayne McDonald; Bill & Lillian Thomas with Dr A Stewart; Peter Johnson & Dr Joan Olsen.
• Towle A, Godolphin W, Manklow J, Wiesinger H. Patient perceptions that limit a community-based intervention to promote participation. Patient Education and Counseling 2003; 50: 231-33.

A group of second-year medical students developed and piloted a series of 3 educational workshops in 2011-2012 to help new immigrants and refugees access the Canadian health care system and communicate more effectively with health care professionals. The workshops were piloted with participants at a settlement program for Spanish-speaking immigrants and refugees at Little Mountain Neighbourhood House in Vancouver. Workshop themes were: 1. Introduction to the Canadian Health Care System; 2. How to Find a Family Doctor; and 3. a ‘Health Fair,’ which provided an overview on specific health topics that participants identified as important (e.g. child immunizations, women’s health). The project was funded by the Social Accountability and Community Engagement Initiative of the Department of Family Practice, UBC Faculty of Medicine.