Vulnerability of medical students and professionals to extreme work stress: A select review of the literature

2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 181-187
Author(s):  
Maciej Walkiewicz ◽  
Małgorzata Tartas
Keyword(s):  
Medical Students ◽  
Work Stress ◽  
English Language ◽  
Psychological Intervention ◽  
Medical Professionals ◽  
Extreme Stress ◽  
Online Databases ◽  
Medical Career ◽  
Medical University ◽  
The Impact

The goal of the paper is to describe the extent to which medical students and professionals are vulnerable to extreme stress. A select review of existing literature on this area has been undertaken, using the English-language online databases EBSCO, Medline and PubMed. The search has identified 36 citations relating to 6324 medical students and 28,285 medical staff (physicians, residents, nurses). The review indicates that merely beginning medical studies is a risk factor for stress, and that medical professionals, who are vulnerable to extreme work stress, say that they do not receive enough support from their co-workers. They are also often notably impulsive, introverted, neurotic and perfectionist, with low emotional intelligence and agreeableness, as well as low and external locus of control. Additionally, from longitudinal studies we have been able to identify psychological factors underpinning admission to a medical university that may be useful for predicting future stress in medical career. The results of this study may be taken into account when organizing psychological intervention programs targeted at educating future medical professionals. It seems that early identification of people at risk could reduce the impact of stress related to medical career and enhance the somatic and mental health of medical professionals.

scholarly journals A Rapid Systematic Review Exploring the Involvement of Medical Students in Pandemics and Other Global Health Emergencies

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Anastasia Martin ◽  
Iris Martine Blom ◽  
Gemma Whyatt ◽  
Raghav Shaunak ◽  
Maria Inês Francisco Viva ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Global Health ◽  
Health Impacts ◽  
Rapid Review ◽  
Narrative Synthesis ◽  
Medical Assistance ◽  
Online Databases ◽  
The Impact

ABSTRACT Objectives: The role of medical students in the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is rapidly evolving. The aim of this review is to explore the involvement of medical students in past global health emergencies, to help inform current and future scenarios. Methods: A rapid systematic review was undertaken, including articles from online databases discussing the roles, willingness and appropriateness of medical student involvement in global health emergencies. Data were extracted, appraised and written up as a narrative synthesis. This study was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42020177231). Results: Twenty-eight articles were included. Medical students played a wide variety of clinical and nonclinical roles including education and logistics, although medical assistance was the most commonly reported role. Challenges included a lack of preparedness and negative mental health impacts. A total of 91.7% of included articles about willingness found medical students were more willing to be involved than not. Conclusions: This review shows medical students are capable and willing to be involved in global health emergencies. However, there should be clear protocols for the roles that they play, taking into account the appropriateness. As a rapid review, there were study limitations and more research is required regarding the impact of these roles on medical students and the system.

scholarly journals The impact of medical knowledge on attitudes towards the use of OTC drugs

2015 ◽  
Vol 125 (3) ◽  
pp. 137-143 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara Kołłątaj ◽  
Magda Sowa ◽  
Witold Kołłątaj ◽  
Piotr Książek ◽  
Justyna Szakuła
Keyword(s):  
Medical Students ◽  
Medical Knowledge ◽  
Symptomatic Treatment ◽  
Self Medication ◽  
Otc Drugs ◽  
Maximum Period ◽  
Students Attitudes ◽  
Medicine Analysis ◽  
Medical University ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Introduction. In many countries, the concept of OTC drugs, among others, is defined in advance by the assumed maximum period of their use – usually 3-5 days. In fact, many patients often benefit from these opportunities too often, use medication for longer than 3-5 days and prefer symptomatic treatment rather than causal. OTC drugs give people a sense of freedom and subjectivity. Numerous doctors claim that too much freedom in this case can prove dangerous. Aim. The aim of this study was to analyze the changes in attitudes towards the use of OTC drugs in medicine students as they acquire knowledge and medical experience. Material and methods. The study looked at 178 students of the Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Lublin (89 – 1 and 2 year students as well 89 – 5 and 6 year ones). A diagnostic survey was used as a tool for obtaining responses from the participants. The survey was conducted between October 2014 and November 2014. Results. Almost 90% of medical students use OTC drugs for self-medication, while only 11% of them have never used such medicine. Analysis of students’ attitudes indicate that acquired medical knowledge has no effect on the frequency using this type of treatment. Overall, students tend to use such drugs occasionally. Only some 14-23% of them use the OTC drugs on a regular basis. The motivations for the use such drugs include: convenience, the previous experiences implying the efficacy of drugs, less frequent are other reasons. Some 28% of the students participating in the study and at least 13% of graduating medical students accept prolonged use of OTC drugs. As the consequence acquisition of medical knowledge, the students are less likely to consult their self-medication attitudes with doctors, families and friends, more often and accurately read the leaflets for drugs, and are more and more reluctant to proposals for extending the assortment of available OTC drugs. Conclusions. 1. Almost 90% of medical students use OTC drugs for self-treatment. 2. 28% of polled 1-2 year medical students and at least 13% of graduating ones may have tendencies to abuse drugs. 3. Over the subsequent years of study, medical students more often read medicine leaflets, they become less reliant on the advice they receive from their family or friends regarding self-treatment or they are less willing to extend the range of available OTC drugs.

scholarly journals Coping Strategies and Psychopathological Responses Among Medical and Non-medical Professionals – a Cross-Sectional Online Survey

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marta Ciułkowicz ◽  
Julian Maciaszek ◽  
Błażej Misiak ◽  
Anna Pałȩga ◽  
Joanna Rymaszewska ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Coping Strategies ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
General Health Questionnaire ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Medical Professionals ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Event Scale ◽  
Medical Career ◽  
The Impact

Background: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic was announced on March 11th, 2020, due to a surge of newly confirmed cases that significantly impacted populations worldwide, both directly and indirectly. Based on past epidemics research, the mental health implications of introduced restrictions should be expected and adequately addressed irrespective of the practiced profession.Objective: The study aimed to explore psychopathological responses, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), concerning coping strategy clusters during the COVID-19 pandemic among medical and non-medical workers.Methods: A cross-sectional web survey of the general population of internet users was performed from March 16th to April 26th, 2020, in Poland during the first peak of COVID-19 cases. A sample of 1,831 professionally active respondents, 64.0% of which pursuing a medical career, filled out General Health Questionnaire-28 (GHQ-28), The Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R), and MiniCOPE, along with the socio-demographic questionnaire exploring personal as well as the work-related possibility of direct exposure to contagion and availability of proper protection, contact with the infected without accurate protective measures as well as the adequacy of workers when compared settings.Results: Individuals labeled with specific clusters had significantly different psychopathological manifestations. Irrespective of performed job maladaptive cluster was associated with significantly higher GHQ-28 and IES-R scores on total subscales and all subscales compared to those representing the non-specific and adaptive cluster. Similar findings were observed concerning the frequency of the GHQ-28 positive score. Moreover, the non-specific cluster was associated with significantly higher GHQ-28 total scores among medical professionals. However, GHQ-28 positive scores were significantly more frequent in medical workers using adaptive clusters when compared to non-specific. Such relations were not observed in the non-medical group.IES-R total and subscales' scores did not significantly vary within medical and non-medical groups when adaptive and non-specific clusters were compared. Pursuing a non-medical career was found to be a determinant of lower scores, while female sex was observed to be determinant of higher scores in both GHQ-28 and IES-R scales.Conclusions: Positive screening for psychopathological and PTSD symptoms was expected regardless of the analyzed groups' coping strategies. Given the dramatically developing situation of the COVID-19 pandemic, support initiatives grounded in research evidence may be essential for maintaining the mental well-being and resilience of both the medical and non-medical workforce.

scholarly journals Understanding the impact of professional motivation on the workforce crisis in medicine

BJGP Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. BJGPO.2021.0005
Author(s):  
Efioanwan Andah ◽  
Blessing Essang ◽  
Charlotte Friend ◽  
Sarah Greenley ◽  
Kathryn Harvey ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
English Language ◽  
Medical Profession ◽  
Secondary Analysis ◽  
Final Analysis ◽  
Rapid Review ◽  
Medical Professionals ◽  
Medical Workforce ◽  
Design Quality ◽  
The Impact

BackgroundThe NHS is facing a workforce crisis. Responses to date have focused on improving recruitment of staff, but with less attention paid to retention.AimTo conduct a rapid review using Moss Kanter’s 3M’s model of workforce motivation as a sensitising framework to examine the current medical workforce crisis. Our work considers how insights from research in other professions offers new thinking for understanding what motivates doctors to continue working.Design & settingRapid literature review with secondary analysis of existing research examining reasons for leaving medicine.MethodA systematic search strategy was developed with the aid of an Information Specialist. (Search terms: medical professionals, retention, NHS; exclusions: commentaries, non-medical professionals, non-English language etc; limited to post-1990). Applied to three electronic databases, MEDLINE, EMBASE and HMIC. This produced a dataset describing study design/quality; and factors related to motivation for leaving the medical profession. Comparative thematic analysis distilled core themes explaining the reasons for leaving and their relation to the 3M’s model.ResultsOf 3,389 abstracts identified, screening and assessment produced 82 papers included in the final analysis. Thematic analysis identified four key themes: low morale, disconnect, unmanageable change and lack of personal and professional support. The themes of mastery, membership and meaning were substantially present within the dataset.ConclusionThe 3M’s model of motivation can be applied to the medical workforce to understand retention issues. This work supports the development of targeted solutions to tackle the worsening workforce crisis.

scholarly journals Development and Validation of an Emotional Intelligence Test for Medical Students

2021 ◽  
pp. 37-47
Author(s):  
R. Deepa ◽  
Anuja S. Panicker
Keyword(s):  
Emotional Intelligence ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Predictive Validity ◽  
Medical Curriculum ◽  
Reliability And Validity ◽  
Medical Professionals ◽  
Second Phase ◽  
Retest Reliability ◽  
Test Retest Reliability ◽  
The Impact

Aims: Emotional intelligence is an important ability that has to be fostered among medical professionals. To foster an ability, it has to be assessed. The tests/tools already available are culture-sensitive and context-sensitive. Hence there is a need to develop a test to assess the emotional intelligence abilities of medical students. This paper describes a multiphase study in which an instrument was developed to assess the emotional intelligence of medical students. Study Design:  The study was done in four phases. The first three phases were to develop the instrument and establish its reliability and validity. The fourth phase was to demonstrate the predictive validity of the developed instrument. Place and Duration of Study: A private teaching hospital in South India; Two years. Methodology: In the first phase, the emotional challenges of medical students (n =55) were understood to develop the situations for the situational judgment tests. In the second phase, the instrument was developed with 38 items contributing to the constructs of EI. In the third phase, a pilot study was conducted, in which the developed tool was administered on a sample of 150 medical students. The data was used to verify the content validity, construct validity, internal consistency reliability (0.8), and predictive validity. In the fourth phase (n = 102) the test-retest reliability (with a ten-month interval between the tests) and the predictive validity (established by studying the association between EI measured with the tool and the academic performance of respondents) of the purified instrument were studied. Results: A tool to assess the EI of medical students was developed. The tool demonstrated test-retest reliability (0.6) and predictive validity (r = 0.29; P < .01). Conclusion: The tool would provide a premise for the development of training programs and their inclusion in the medical curriculum, which in turn would yield medical professionals who can deliver enhanced patient care. The study also showed the impact of EI on the academic achievement of medical students and hence their knowledge and skills will also be improved by including EI in their curriculum.

scholarly journals The Impact of Chromothripsis on the Clinical Outcomes of Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML): A Meta-Analysis

Blood ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 136 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 34-34
Author(s):  
Philip A Haddad ◽  
Dalia Hammoud ◽  
Kevin M. Gallagher
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Outcomes ◽  
English Language ◽  
Conflicts Of Interest ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Response Rates ◽  
Kaplan Meier ◽  
Online Databases ◽  
Inverse Variance ◽  
Aggressive Clinical Course ◽  
The Impact

Introduction: Chromothripsis is a single genomic catastrophic event that can involve one or several chromosomes resulting in chromosomal fragmentation. Genomic instability leading to loss of chromosomes and complex karyotype is known to be associated with resistance to chemotherapy and poor prognosis in AML. While chromothripsis is associated with aggressive clinical course in various cancers, its impact on AML clinical outcomes has not been consistently conclusive. The purpose of this meta-analysis is to evaluate the pooled effect of chromothripsis on the response rates and overall survival of patients with AML. Methods: A review of the medical literature was conducted using online databases. Inclusion criteria consisted of AML diagnosis, English language, and studies reporting OS with hazard ratios (HR) or Kaplan-Meier curves that compared AML outcomes with and without chromothripsis. A meta-analysis using an inverse variance method with a random-effects model was conducted. Results: Two comparative studies with a total of 444 patients were included in this meta-analysis. In the presence of chromothripsis OS was adversely impacted (HR 1.78, 95%CI: 1.05-3.01, p=0.03) with a heterogeneity estimate, I2=40%. Moreover, response rates were significantly lower in AML cases with chromothripsis versus those without (19% vs. 62%, p&lt;0.05). Conclusions: This meta-analysis confirms the adverse impact of chromothripsis on response rates and OS of patients with AML. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

scholarly journals Effectiveness of online mindfulness interventions on medical students’ mental health: a systematic review

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vaidehi Yogeswaran ◽  
Christo El Morr
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
English Language ◽  
Emotional Reactivity ◽  
Behavioural Therapy ◽  
Quantitative Evidence ◽  
Mindfulness Interventions ◽  
Mental Health Challenges ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Medical school typically presents students with a combination of academic and personal stressors that may lead to substandard mental health wellbeing. Meditation practices such as mindfulness facilitate a greater awareness of one's thoughts and feelings, thereby decreasing emotional reactivity. The use of mindfulness-based interventions delivered online has considerable potential in fostering self-care and helping medical students to handle mental health challenges. We examined the available evidence on the use of online mindfulness interventions in order to determine whether they are feasible and effective for improving medical students’ mental health. Methods We performed a systematic review guided by PRISMA guidelines and utilised the following databases: ProQuest, Medline, PubMed, PsycINFO, Web of Science, IEEE Explore, Cochrane, and CINAHL. The key search terms used include mindfulness, cognitive behavioural therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, online, web, virtual, internet cyber, app, medical students, residency students, and residents. English-language articles published in the last ten years that described online interventions for medical students or residents were included in the review. Results Two studies describing the impact of online mindfulness interventions on medical students’ mental health were identified. Research in this domain is nascent; available qualitative and quantitative evidence suggests benefits in self-compassion, perceived stress, cognitive skill use, mindfulness, creating coping mechanisms, and greater awareness of emotions and feelings. There was no evidence of the effectiveness of online mindfulness interventions on depression, anxiety and burnout. There was, however, general low program usage and participation tended to diminish near the conclusion of the interventions. Conclusions The evidence found in the systematic review exhibits the potential for online mindfulness interventions to be effective in addressing some mental health challenges of medical students. There was insufficient evidence to support the use of online mindfulness interventions for burnout, depression, and anxiety. Longitudinal studies with randomised controlled trials are required to generate stronger and robust evidence.

scholarly journals Sources of Work Stress of English Language Teachers in Secondary Government Schools in Saudi Arabia

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
Mohamad Ahmad Saleem Khasawneh
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Secondary School ◽  
Work Stress ◽  
English Language ◽  
Teaching Experience ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
Government Schools ◽  
English Language Teachers ◽  
High Level ◽  
The Impact

The study aimed to reveal the level of work stress among secondary school English language teachers in government schools affiliated with the education directorates in Abha, Saudi Arabia, and knowing the impact of both gender, and experience on their estimates. The study population consisted of (105) male and female teachers. A questionnaire was prepared to measure the level of work stress among teachers, and it consisted of (31) items. The results showed that the work pressures facing secondary school English language teachers were at a high level on the dimensions as a whole. The results also showed that there were no statistically significant differences due to the variable of gender and teaching experience.

scholarly journals Peculiarities of diet, physical activity and body weight of medical university students during COVID-19 restrictive measures

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 527-532
Author(s):  
Natal’ya K. Tikhonova ◽  
◽  
Maksim M. Arshanskiy ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Body Weight ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Food Intake ◽  
Fast Food ◽  
The Body ◽  
Activity Increase ◽  
Restrictive Measures ◽  
Medical University ◽  
The Impact

BACKGROUND: Pandemics of new coronavirus infection (COVID-19) introduced additional corrections in the style of life of students. Introduction of restrictive measures, transfer to distance learning produce an ambiguous effect on the vital activity of a human including his physical health and diet. AIM: To evaluate the impact of COVID-19 restrictive measures on nutrition, physical activity and body mass of medical students. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sociological, analytical, statistical methods were used. According to the results of a questionnaire survey of 167 third-year students of the medical faculty of Smolensk State Medical University, a comparative assessment of nutrition, physical activity and body weight before the introduction of COVID-19 restrictive measures and in 3 4 months after self-isolation is presented. The reliability of differences in the shares of the characteristic was assessed by the value of Fishers angular transformation coefficient (φ). RESULTS: Diets of medical students were unbalanced both before and during COVID-19 restrictive measures. Changes in the diet during the period of self-isolation took place in 54.2% of the respondents. The number of students with 4 meals a day increased 1.6 times, and with 5 meals 12.9 times. The share of respondents with 2 meals a day decreased 6.3 times. Daytime food intake decreased 1.7 times, and 2.8 times more often the respondents did not have a fixed time of food intake. All medical students refused a full breakfast both before and during the period of self-isolation. The predomination of evening meals decreased 2.4 times. Home-made dishes were consumed 1.2 times more often, semi-finished products 2.4 times less often, and consumption of fast food decreased by 4.2%. Physical activity during the period of self-isolation significantly decreased in every fifth student. Every fourth respondent noticed increase in the body weight. CONCLUSION: Restrictive measures did not change the preferences in the choice of food products by medical students and the habits of not eating breakfast, and imbalanced diets. The positive impact of restrictive measures for COVID-19: increase in use of freshly prepared meals, the frequency of meals, and limitation of the possibility to eat in fast food restaurants. The negative effect of self-isolation: frequent infringement of the diet, increased daily amount of fast food consumed, decrease in physical activity, increase in body weight.

scholarly journals The Impact of Teaching EFL Medical Vocabulary Through Collocations on Vocabulary Retention of EFL Medical Students

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 24
Author(s):  
Maryam Najafi ◽  
Mohammad Reza Talebinezhad
Keyword(s):  
Medical Students ◽  
English Language ◽  
Mother Tongue ◽  
English Language Teaching ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Control Group Design ◽  
Medical Vocabulary ◽  
Quasi Experimental ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Experimental Group

Teaching technical vocabulary in ESP context is a vital part of English language teaching at a university level. EFL teachers almost use traditional techniques for teaching new medical vocabulary. This study aimed at examining the impact of teaching medical vocabulary through collocations on vocabulary learning of medical students. This quasi-experimental study with a pretest/posttest control group design was conducted on 80 students majoring Nursing at Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Iran. The proficiency test was used to determine the proficiency level of the students and 62 students were selected as intermediate students. The students were assigned into two groups. In the experimental group new medical vocabulary was taught through collocations, while in the control group new vocabularies were instructed through traditional techniques including synonym, antonym, definition and mother tongue translation. Data were collected using a researcher-made test of collocation. Results showed that the mean score of teaching medical vocabulary was increased in the experimental group after the treatment. It can be seen that the experimental group outperformed the control group on the medical collocation tests.

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