Objective Patient involvement is used to describe the inclusion of patients as active participants in healthcare. This may pertain to patient involvement in medical (treatment) decision-making or patient involvement in healthcare research. Little is known about the attitudes of incoming medical students towards such patient involvement in healthcare. The aim of this study was, therefore, to investigate incoming year 1 medical students′ attitudes and opinions regarding patient involvement in healthcare and research. Methods We partnered with four year 2 MBChB (medicine) students when formulating the design of the study survey to ensure we communicated effectively with incoming students. Approval for this study was obtained from the College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences (MVLS) Ethics Committee for Non-clinical Research Involving Human Participants [No: 200210131] and the informed consent of all participants obtained.All incoming year 1 MBChB (medical) students (n = 333) were invited to take part in an online survey before formal teaching commenced.The survey included questions with Likert scales and three short vignette scenarios.The scenarios were designed with the aim of probing student attitudes towards patient involvement linked to existing legal precedent.Results 15% of invited students responded to the survey. The data indicate that participants were broadly familiar with, and supportive of, current legal precent relating to patient involvement in their own treatment. There was least support for patient involvement in conducting (22.4%), contributing to (34.7%) or communicating research (30.6%), although there was unanimous support for patients′ lived experiences of innovative treatment shaping future practice (100%). Conclusion Incoming members of the medical profession demonstrate awareness of the need to actively include patients in healthcare decision-making pertaining to treatment.Participants notably demonstrate agreement that patients be involved in broader management decision-making. There is, conversely, a lack of awareness of how patient involvement in research practices may be of utility and value.Further empirical studies are required to examine attitudes to patient involvement in healthcare.

The authors have declared no competing interest.

This study did not receive any funding.

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Approval for this study was obtained from the University of Glasgow College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences (MVLS) Ethics Committee for Non-clinical Research Involving Human Participants [No: 200210131] and the informed consent of all participants obtained.

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