We conducted an outpatient escort program as a part of our early exposure curriculum for first-year medical students. Each student escorted one patient at the University of Tsukuba Hospital throughout his or her first visit. This program enabled the students to experience and think about the system of a university hospital from a patient's point of view. We believe that this program is useful to motivate first-year medical students in their future studies.

Students in their 5th and 6th year of University of Tsukuba, School of Medicine, enter into a clinical clerkship. They record medical charts and flow sheets and they present at clinical rounds.
1) From 2000 to 2005, a questionnaire survey was conducted to evaluate the clinical clerkship in the rheumatology division. We also evaluated the influence of the introduction of infliximab therapy (October 2003) on the students' experience.
2) Evaluation of the clinical clerkship by the students was improved by attending the infliximab ward. Students felt more involved in the treatment of the patients by preparing drip infusion sets, disssolving infliximab, assisting with the drawing of blood and drip infusions, checking of the vital signs every 30 minutes, and recording charts.
3) Students realized the improvement of rheumatoid arthritis with therapy and the changes in the patients' emotional status after the introduction of infliximab.

We conduct an outpatient escort program as a part of our early exposure curriculum for first-year medical students. Each student escorts one patient at the University of Tsukuba Hospital throughout his or her first visit. We evaluated this program from the points of view of both students and patients.
1) A questionnaire was distributed to all participating patients and students in 2006.
2) In their questionnaires, many students commented on the long waiting time, the structural problems of the hospital, and the attitudes of physicians.
3) Results of the questionnaire showed that both students and patients rated this program highly.
4) No significant differences were noted between the comments of the students and those of the patients. The patients tended to rate this program more highly than did the students. One patient, however, commented that being constantly accompanied by a stranger was somewhat stressful.
5) We conclude that this program can be efficiently carried out without being too much of a burden to patients and is a valuable part of an early exposure program for first-year medical students.