Antidepressant awareness and stigmatizing attitudes toward depression and antidepressants, a comparison between first and sixth-year medical students

2021 ◽  
pp. 002076402098554
Author(s):  
Ayşe Derin Nalçakan ◽  
Ezgi Aysu Şahin ◽  
Oguz Kaan Yalcinkaya ◽  
Sertac Ak
Keyword(s):  
Medical Education ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
Linear Regression Analysis ◽  
Public Information ◽  
Target Population ◽  
Potential Effect ◽  
First Year ◽  
Awareness Campaigns ◽  
Stigma Score

Background and aim: Psychiatric disorders and antidepressant usage rates have increased over the years. However, prejudice, self, and public stigma continue to impede patients from receiving appropriate treatment, especially in traditional societies. In this study, the views of first and sixth-year medical students were examined. We aimed to show the potential effect of public information and 6 years of medical education on knowledge and awareness. Method: Our target population was first and sixth-year medical students at the Faculty of Medicine at Hacettepe University in Ankara, Turkey, during the semester 2018–2019. For measurement, widely used scales such as the Beck Depression Inventory, Beck Anxiety Inventory were administered. In addition, scales formed specifically by our research team: Sociodemographic information form and Depression and Antidepressant Awareness and Knowledge Scale were used. Results: Compared to first-year participants, sixth-year participants had significantly less stigmatizing views on individual statements. The overall stigma score of sixth-year participants was significantly lower ( p < .05) than first-year participants. Linear Regression Analysis showed that the only predictor of overall stigma score was the depression score ( p < .05, beta = −0.36), which acted as a negative predictor. Discussion: Sixth-year participants had higher rates of diagnosed psychiatric illness and psychiatric drug usage. Interestingly, the score was not a predictor of the overall stigma score. However, in the responses to individual statements, we observed an overall increase in knowledge and decreased stigma among the sixth-year participants compared to first-year participants. The effects of medical education on knowledge are significant overall. On the other hand, the level of knowledge and beliefs of our first-year participants, which are similar to the public, show a worrisome situation indicating that broader public education efforts are needed. Our study shows an encouraging perspective, indicating that public awareness campaigns can be very effective in increasing knowledge and decreasing misconceptions.

scholarly journals Incorporating patient safety into early undergraduate medical education: teaching medical students to perform surgical time outs during anatomy

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. e001229
Author(s):  
Abdul-Rahman M Suleiman ◽  
Daniel Amarasinghe ◽  
Priya Kathuria ◽  
Jacob Vandel ◽  
Jordan Holloway ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Medical Education ◽  
Patient Safety ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Gross Anatomy ◽  
First Year ◽  
Surgical Time ◽  
Surgical Safety ◽  
Wayne State University ◽  
Time Out ◽  
Surgical Errors

ObjectivesTo introduce surgical safety checklists and time outs to future physicians through early incorporation of time outs in the first year gross anatomy course.SettingThe Wayne State University School of Medicine Anatomy Lab.ParticipantsApproximately 300 first year medical students per year participated in the intervention.InterventionsAn educational presentation on medical errors focusing on surgical errors was developed. Students in 2017–2018 viewed the presentation and completed two time outs, one with the first anatomy dissection and a second with the last dissection. Preintervention and postintervention surveys were completed and results compared. Students completed a second postintervention survey after the second time out. Students in 2018–2019 were asked to complete the time outs before every dissection. Time out procedure sheets were collected to determine completion rates. The intervention was further modified for academic year 2019–2020 and time out sheets were again collected.Outcome measuresFour domains of learning were surveyed: (1) major components and goals/limitations of universal protocol, (2) medical error lexicon, (3) components of a time out, and (4) confidence in completing time out checklists.ResultsPostintervention surveys demonstrated significant improvement in each domain. Students found time outs easy to complete and developed confidence in performing time outs. Following a successful pilot, time outs were incorporated into every dissection. Students continued to perform this procedure despite absence of adverse consequences for not doing so.ConclusionStudents found the time outs easy to complete and developed the confidence and ability to perform a surgical time out early in their medical education. The new skills, knowledge and attitudes that these medical students have developed will hopefully improve the care they provide to patients, thereby advancing the practice of quality improvement and patient safety in the clinical setting.

scholarly journals The usage pattern and willingness of undergraduate medical students for including social media platforms as a learning tool in medical education- an online survey

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-17
Author(s):  
Momin Kashif ◽  
Mirza Nisar Baig
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Medical Education ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Active Participation ◽  
First Year ◽  
Usage Pattern ◽  
Undergraduate Medical Students ◽  
Learning Tool ◽  
Social Media Platforms

Background: The rapid growth and availability of smartphones and social media platforms (SMP) have changed the medical students' approach to learn and manage the information about their academic, personal and professional lives. Methods: An online survey was done in undergraduate medical students of PIMS, Karimnagar to collect information about usage pattern and perception of SMP, and willingness to participate for using SMP as a learning tool in medical education. Results: Total 433 (Females – 275) out of 600 students participated in the survey from the first year (125), secondyear (151) and third-year (157) MBBS students. Everyone is using some type of SMP. They find SMP nearly equal to lecture materials and subject notes as a useful learning tool and there was significantly increasing trend of perception of SMP being a useful learning tool from the first-year (79%), second-year (83%) to third-year (92%), (p=0.01). Almost 93% want to see SMP used at institute level in medical education. Female students (52.4%) are significantly more willing for active participation than male students (43%), p=0.04. First-year students (56%) are more ready for active participation followed by third (48.4%) and second (43.7%) year students, p=0.08. Conclusion: Most students are willing to include SMP in medical education as a learning tool and ready to participate in different activities if they get the required training. As all students have smartphones and efficiently utilizing different services on their devices, SMP can become an effective learning tool in medical education.

scholarly journals Career aspirations and apprehensions regarding medical education among first year medical students in Delhi

2007 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 217 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anita Nath ◽  
Rahul Malhotra ◽  
GK Ingle ◽  
Panna Lal ◽  
Chetna Malhotra
Keyword(s):  
Medical Education ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Career Aspirations ◽  
First Year ◽  
First Year Medical Students

scholarly journals Teamwork in medical education: are medical students team workers?

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anke Boone ◽  
Mathieu Roelants ◽  
Karel Hoppenbrouwers ◽  
Corinne Vandermeulen ◽  
Marc Dubois ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Medical Education ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Educational Process ◽  
First Year ◽  
Design Data ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Medical Educators ◽  
Cross Sectional Design ◽  
Implicit Curriculum

Abstract Introduction. Despite the increasing importance of teamwork in healthcare, medical education still puts great emphasis on individual achievements. The purpose of this study is to examine medical students’ team role preferences, including the association with gender and specialty; and to provide implications for policy makers and medical educators. Methods. We used an exploratory methodology, following a repeated cross-sectional design. Data was collected from first year master students in medicine (n=2293) during five consecutive years (2016 – 2020). The Belbin Team Role Self Perception Inventory (BTRSPI) was used to measure medical students’ self-perceptions of their team role. Results. The Team Worker was the most preferred team role among medical students (35.8%), regardless of study year, gender or specialty. Female and male students had similar team role patterns, although female students scored higher on Team Worker (40.4% vs. 29.1%, p < 0.001) and Completer-Finisher (14.0% vs. 8.0%, p < 0.001). Conclusions. Our findings are encouraging due to the increased importance of interdisciplinary collaborations in healthcare. Nevertheless, policy makers and medical educators should prioritize teamwork skills at all stages (i.e. admission to residency) and levels (i.e. in the explicit and implicit curriculum) to ensure their continued development throughout the educational process.

Research: Does the Addition of Ultrasound Enhance Cardiac Anatomy Learning in Undergraduate Medical Education?

POCUS Journal ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 7-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joshua Durbin, MD ◽  
Amer M. Johri, MD ◽  
Anthony Sanfilippo, MD
Keyword(s):  
Medical Education ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Point Of Care ◽  
Therapeutic Interventions ◽  
First Year ◽  
Point Of Care Ultrasound ◽  
Cardiac Anatomy ◽  
True Value ◽  
Queen's University ◽  
First Year Medical Students

With the advent of portable hand-held ultrasound units, the use of point of care ultrasound (POCUS) has become increasingly popular amongst a wide array of medical specialists for both diagnostic and therapeutic interventions. Canada-wide surveys demonstrate a desire for increased utilization of POCUS in primary medical education. In this study, we aim to assess the efficacy of an ultrasound based anatomy tutorial and the perspectives of a cohort of first year medical students at Queen’s University. Students were recruited, randomized to pre or post-test analysis, and provided with a supplementary lecture on cardiac anatomy utilizing echocardiography studies. In this study, we were unable to demonstrate a difference between understanding of basic cardiac anatomy between groups. However, we were able to report the opinions and perspectives of a small cohort of first year medical students at Queen’s University, illustrating a desire for increased exposure and training towards cardiac POCUS in primary medical education. Further evidence is required to delineate the true value of these experiences.

Can first-year medical students acquire quality improvement knowledge prior to substantial clinical exposure? A mixed-methods evaluation of a pre-clerkship curriculum that uses education as the context for learning

2018 ◽  
Vol 27 (7) ◽  
pp. 576-582 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allison Brown ◽  
Aditya Nidumolu ◽  
Alexandra Stanhope ◽  
Justin Koh ◽  
Matthew Greenway ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Medical Education ◽  
Quality Improvement ◽  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Health System ◽  
Future Research ◽  
First Year ◽  
Clinical Scenarios ◽  
First Year Medical Students ◽  
The Impact

BackgroundQuality Improvement (QI) training for health professionals is essential to strengthen health systems. However, QI training during medical school is constrained by students’ lack of contextual understanding of the health system and an already saturated medical curriculum. The Program for Improvement in Medical Education (PRIME), an extracurricular offered at the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicineat McMaster University (Hamilton, Canada), addresses these obstacles by having first-year medical students engage in QI by identifying opportunities for improvement within their own education.MethodsA sequential explanatory mixed-methods approach, which combines insights derived from quantitative instruments and qualitative interview methods, was used to examine the impact of PRIME on first-year medical students and the use of QI in the context of education.ResultsThe study reveals that participation in PRIME increases both knowledge of, and comfort with, fundamental QI concepts, even when applied to clinical scenarios. Participants felt that education provided a meaningful context to learn QI at this stage of their training, and were motivated to participate in future QI projects to drive real-world improvements in the health system.ConclusionsEarly exposure to QI principles that uses medical education as the context may be an effective intervention to foster QI competencies at an early stage and ultimately promote engagement in clinical QI. Moreover, PRIME also provides a mechanism to drive improvements in medical education. Future research is warranted to better understand the impact of education as a context for later engagement in clinical QI applications as well as the potential for QI methods to be translated directly into education.

scholarly journals Attitude of first year medical students towards cadaveric dissection: a cross sectional study in a medical college of West Bengal, India

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (6) ◽  
pp. 2679
Author(s):  
Romy Biswas ◽  
Raktim Bandyopadhyay
Keyword(s):  
Medical Education ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Emotional Reactions ◽  
Human Anatomy ◽  
First Year ◽  
Cadaver Dissection ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Active Involvement ◽  
First Year Medical Students

Background: Cadaver dissection is mandatory for medical education. The cadaver dissection develops the knowledge and skill of the students regarding human anatomy to understand and accomplish the necessity of medical education and clinics in future. This study was conducted to assess the attitude and emotional reactions of first year Medical students to the dissecting cadavers.Methods: The attitude and opinion of students on cadaver dissection was assessed by a modified structured pretested questionnaire after one week of dissection class among all first year medical students by cross-sectional design.Results: Males and females were in the ratio of 7:3.88.3% complied that active involvement is necessary but only 10.9% told that models or virtual program could replace dissection. Altogether 49.6%% had experienced the excitement, 15.3% had experienced headache and sweating. 87.6%% were curious about cadaver dissection and 84.7 %were interested; however 8% had negative feelings towards dead body.Conclusions: Majority of students opined cadaver dissection was the best method for learning and understanding Human anatomy. Pre-education sessions and interaction with the teacher’s prior dissection will help to remove the anxiety among students and will enable them to get involved in their dissection classes.

scholarly journals Evaluating the appropriateness of electronic information resources for learning in pre-clerkship medical education : an eye tracking study

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Dinara Saparova
Keyword(s):  
Medical Education ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Learning Outcomes ◽  
Mental Effort ◽  
Information Resources ◽  
First Year ◽  
Electronic Information ◽  
Electronic Information Resources ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
First Year Medical Students

Current U.S. medical students have begun to rely on electronic information repositories -- such as UpToDate, Access Medicine, and Wikipedia -- for their pre-clerkship medical education. However, it is unclear whether these resources are appropriate for this level of learning due to factors involving information quality, level of evidence, and the requisite knowledge base. This study evaluated the appropriateness of electronic information resources from a novel perspective: the amount of mental effort learners invest in interactions with these resources and the effects of the experienced mental effort on learning. Eighteen first-year medical students read about three unstudied diseases in the three above-mentioned resources (a total of 54 observations). Their eye movement characteristics (i.e., fixation duration, fixation count, visit duration, and task-evoked pupillary response) were recorded and used as psychophysiological indicators of the experienced mental effort. Post reading, students' learning was assessed with a multiple-choice test. Eye metrics and test results constituted quantitative data that were analyzed according to the repeated Latin square design. Students' perceptions and observations of their interactions with the information resources constituted qualitative data that were also obtained. Participants' feedback from semi-structured interviews and recordings of students' information acquisition behaviors were reviewed, transcribed, and open coded for the emergent themes. Compared to Access Medicine and Wikipedia, UpToDate was associated with significantly higher values of eye metrics suggesting higher mental effort experienced by learners when using this resource. No statistically significant difference between the amount of mental effort and learning outcomes was found. More so, descriptive statistical analysis of the knowledge test scores suggested similar level of learning regardless of the information resource used. Students' feedback and observations of their behaviors were informative in understanding and interpreting the differences in quantitative findings. Judging by the learning outcomes, all three information resources were found appropriate for learning. UpToDate, however, when used alone, may be less appropriate for first-year medical students' learning as it does not fully address their information needs and is more demanding in terms of invested cognitive resources.

scholarly journals A cross-sectional study exploring attitudes of first year medical students towards psychiatry and factors they identified that would help stimulate their interest

BJPsych Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (S1) ◽  
pp. S146-S146
Author(s):  
Isabel Mark ◽  
Victoria Fernandez Garcia De Las Heras
Keyword(s):  
Medical Students ◽  
Communication Skills ◽  
Role Model ◽  
P Value ◽  
First Year ◽  
Free Text ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Awareness Campaigns ◽  
First Year Medical Students

AimsPsychiatry has had long standing recruitment difficulties. Many efforts have been made to explore strategies that encourage interest in the specialty, with early university experience being an important factor in ultimate career choice. The Royal College of Psychiatrists ‘Choose Psychiatry’ guidance for medical schools outlines four key areas of focus: teaching excellence, placement quality, leadership and enrichment activities, with other research reporting similar conclusions. The aim of this study was to assess attitudes towards psychiatry amongst first year medical students, examine what input they would welcome from psychiatrists at this stage of their career and consider if their wishes are in keeping with the ‘Choose Psychiatry’ guidance.MethodAll first-year medical students at St George's University of London were approached in October 2019 and offered the opportunity for early psychiatry exposure. 60 students were recruited. Data were collected in November 2019 via an online questionnaire comprising of baseline demographics, the 30-item Attitudes Towards Psychiatry questionnaire (ATP-30) and a free-text question asking what students would like from psychiatry at this stage of their education. Quantitative data were analysed using Excel, whilst qualitative data were analysed thematically.ResultThe mean ATP-30 score was 113.83 (SD 12.57, range 70-135). Gender, ethnicity and religious background were not associated with a change in ATP score. Undergraduates’ attitudes were more positive than those of postgraduates (independent t-test revealed a p-value of 0.087). Seven themes were identified outlining what students wanted from psychiatry, the most prominent being: (a) learning about the lifestyle of a psychiatrist and finding a role model, (b) exploring the patient perspective, (c) exploring the interaction between psychiatry and specialities and (d) having an opportunity to develop communication skills.ConclusionThe findings demonstrate higher ATP-30 results than previous literature has reported, potentially due to mental health awareness campaigns in recent years. As undergraduates were found to have a higher mean score, targeting them for additional psychiatry contact may be beneficial. Themes identified by students in this study support ‘Choose Psychiatry’ guidance, whilst also highlighting the potential for combining some psychiatry with other specialties in the curriculum. Integration with communication skills teaching might help engage those not initially psychiatry-inclined. Further study will be required to establish whether implementing the suggested strategies can lead to improvement in student ATP-30 scores and ultimately increased recruitment rates.

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