scholarly journals A Qualitative Exploration of Medical Student Empathy During the COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriel Ellison ◽  
Thomas Pruzinsky
Keyword(s):  
Medical Education ◽  
Medical Student ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Clinical Training ◽  
Medical Specialty ◽  
Moral Dilemmas ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Family Responsibilities ◽  
Second Year ◽  
Difficult Times

Abstract BackgroundThere is evidence that medical student self-reported empathy may decline as one progresses through their clinical training. Due to the unprecedented changes to both patient care and medical education caused by COVID-19, it is reasonable to assume that medical student empathy may be impacted. The goal of this July 2020 study was to qualitatively explore how the COVID-19 pandemic might affect medical students’ reported experience of empathy.MethodUsing a semi-structured interview, the authors interviewed 12 medical students, 6 second-year and 6 fourth-year. They selected these groups because of the distinct differences in their clinical experience. ResultsData analysis identified 5 major themes: 1) Expanded Perspective (e.g., a feeling of “we’re in this together”, increased awareness of patient vulnerability) 2) Moral Dilemmas (e.g., difficult decisions faced by students as a result of the pandemic such as weighing educational vs. family responsibilities, students risking their own health to provide the best possible care) 3) Confirmation of Values (e.g., Feeling reaffirmed in decision to enter medicine, feeling the pandemic was “what we signed up for” by entering medical school) 4) Shaping Priorities (e.g., changes in medical specialty or populations of interest) 5) Barriers to Empathy and Adaptive Strategies (e.g., COVID-19 created many physical, psychological, and social barriers to empathy for students, students presented many strategies for ameliorating these barriers). Five students (42%) reported increased empathy with no students reporting a decrease in empathy due to experiences during the pandemic. Conclusions Participants did not report that their personal experience of empathy for patients was negatively influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic. Many reported that their empathy increased. The observed differences in responses by pre-clinical (second-year) and clinical (fourth-year) students suggests a possible shift in how empathy is experienced and practiced as one progresses through their medical education. The overwhelmingly positive responses to the semi-structured interview, emphasizing appreciation of the opportunity to discuss topics not previously openly discussed, underscores the importance of providing explicit opportunities for students to discuss their emotional/interpersonal experiences within medical education, particularly in difficult times such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

Being a medical student in Turkey: The myths, challenges and reality

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (S1) ◽  
pp. S1-S8
Author(s):  
Ayşen Koşan ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Medical Education ◽  
Medical Student ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Phenomenological Approach ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Complex Process ◽  
The Status ◽  
Open Coding ◽  
Qualitative Phenomenological

Medical education is a complex process for training physicians. Although being a medical student is highly prestigious and seems advantageous in many respects, the students have a variety of perceptions towards medical education and their future profession. This study explores medical students’ perceptions about being a student in the faculty of medicine in Turkey. A qualitative phenomenological approach was used. Semi-structured interview method was conducted with thirty medical students to collect data. The audio recordings were analyzed using the phenomenological coding technique in which transcriptions were taken into an open coding process. The students' perceptions revealed some commonalities about how they define themselves and their concerns about their future profession. Findings revealed that although they are mostly satisfied with the status of their future profession, they have several concerns and regrets. Students who aim to study at a medical school in the future need to be aware of the fact that medical education is not an easy training process as it requires developing certain professional competencies, values and attitudes, and the well-being of medical students should also be considered by the educators at medical schools.

scholarly journals Perspectives from an Endocrinologist at the Ottawa Hospital - An Interview with Dr. Christopher Tran

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-36
Author(s):  
Hao Wang ◽  
Melissa Phuong
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Medical Education ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Media Use ◽  
Medical Specialty ◽  
Application Process ◽  
Social Media Use ◽  
Ottawa Hospital ◽  
Familiar Face ◽  
Second Year

Dr. Christopher Tran is an endocrinologist at The Ottawa Hospital known for his work on medical education and eConsults. He is also a friendly, familiar face among second-year uOttawa medical students during their Endocrinology Block. We sat down with Dr. Tran to talk about his current work as well as his perspectives on research and social media use among academics. Dr. Tran also provides advice to medical students with regards to deciding on a medical specialty to pursue and how to approach the CaRMS application process.

Meditation buffers medical student compassion from the deleterious effects of depression.

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer S Mascaro ◽  
Sean Kelley ◽  
Alana Darcher ◽  
Lobsang Negi ◽  
Carol Worthman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Medical Student ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Medical School ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Daily Functioning ◽  
Wait List ◽  
School Students ◽  
Social Emotions ◽  
The Face ◽  
Second Year

Increasing data suggest that for medical school students the stress of academic and psychologicaldemands can impair social emotions that are a core aspect of compassion and ultimately physiciancompetence. Few interventions have proven successful for enhancing physician compassion inways that persist in the face of suffering and that enable sustained caretaker well-being. To addressthis issue, the current study was designed to (1) investigate the feasibility of cognitively-basedcompassion training (CBCT) for second-year medical students, and (2) test whether CBCT decreasesdepression, enhances compassion, and improves daily functioning in medical students. Comparedto the wait-list group, students randomized to CBCT reported increased compassion, and decreasedloneliness and depression. Changes in compassion were most robust in individuals reporting highlevels of depression at baseline, suggesting that CBCT may benefit those most in need by breakingthe link between personal suffering and a concomitant drop in compassion

scholarly journals PREVALENCE OF STRESS AND ITS ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG MEDICAL STUDENTS IN SABAH, MALAYSIA BORNEO

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 116-125 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aldrin Musiun ◽  
Khamisah Awang Lukman ◽  
Mohammad Saffree Jeffree ◽  
Fredie Robinson ◽  
Mohd Rohaizat Hassan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Medical Education ◽  
Medical Student ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Associated Factors ◽  
Health Care Services ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Bivariate Analysis ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Exact Test

Stress is accepted as the accumulation of unpleasant state of physical, mental and emotion on a person. Medical education has been known as one of the most stressful academic curriculum.  Hence, medical students may subjected to multiple psychological changes and challenges throughout the years of medical education.  The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of stress and its associated factors among medical students. This cross sectional study was conducted from April to May 2018 in medical school in Sabah. It involved 396 medical students through universal sampling.  Self-administered questionnaires were used as an instrument for data collection. The questionnaires included were Sociodemographic Questionnaire, Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scales 21 (DASS-21) and Medical Student Stressors Questionnaire (MSSQ). Bivariate analysis (Chi Square test, Fisher’s Exact Test, Independent T test and Man-Whitney U test) were used to analyse the association. The response rate was 90.2%. The prevalence of stress among medical students were 33.3%.  Significant associated factors include financial support inadequacy (p=0.010) and all categories of medical student stressors. The mean score of the academic related stressors was found to be at 2.117 (±0.758) which was the highest mean score among medical student stressors assessed by MSSQ. The result of this study can be used as a basis for implementation of preventive measures such as provision of comprehensive, integrated and responsive mental health care services in university-based settings.

scholarly journals Expanding Medical Student Interaction In Neurology With A Redesigned Student Interest Group In Neurology (SIGN) Chapter

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rohit Gummi ◽  
Ross Smith ◽  
Raghav Govindarajan
Keyword(s):  
Medical Education ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Journal Club ◽  
Student Interest ◽  
Research Projects ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Related Research ◽  
Hands On ◽  
Neurology Clinic ◽  
Second Year

Abstract Background: SIGN chapters across the country provide opportunities for medical students to participate in clinical, research, and service activities in neurology. Despite these, enrollment in SIGN chapters has been traditionally low.Methods: Following changes were introduced: an open board style SIGN chapter executive committee with greater active engagement of first and second year students, new types SIGN chapter activities including journal club articles, hands on workshop (example EMG), celebration/cause events (example ALS walk). In addition, a free neurology clinic was introduced. Activities were planned in consultation with office of medical education, and were organized during ‘down times’. Data on student enrollment, activities successfully carried out, students interested in neurology residency, number of neurology-related research projects with student involvement were collected prior to changes and compared to values after changes were introduced.Results: Post intervention, student engagement in neurology activities and projects increased significantly. There were also significantly more students engaged in neurology related research projects and significantly more students reported interest in neurology. However, a similar increase in applications to neurology residency was not yet observed.Conclusions: An open chapter with early engagement and involvement of first and second year medical students, creating a variety of chapter activities with greater hands on involvement, planned in conjunction with office of medical education has reinvigorated our SIGN chapter.

Medical student and psychiatrist perceptions towards a psychiatric career

2017 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 315-323
Author(s):  
Thomas Flamini ◽  
Natasha R. Matthews ◽  
George S. Castle ◽  
Elliot M. Jones-Williams
Keyword(s):  
Medical Student ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Medical School ◽  
Family Life ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate perceptions towards a career in psychiatry among medical students and psychiatrists and identify how recruitment into the specialty may be improved. Design/methodology/approach This study locally compares medical student and psychiatric doctor responses to a structured online survey and structured interviews with key managerial figures in the Humber NHS Foundation Trust. Findings Comparison across two main areas (pre-decision exposure to psychiatry and reasons for considering a psychiatric career) found that both students and doctors were influenced to make a choice about a career in psychiatry during medical school. Medical students found compatibility with family life to be more important when considering psychiatry, whereas doctors cited content-based reasons as significant pull factors. Stigma and fear of being harmed deterred some students from choosing a career in psychiatry. Structured interview responses reiterated the importance of pre-medical school and undergraduate mentorship in bolstering future recruitment to psychiatry. Practical implications Medical students perceive certain career issues differently to their postgraduate counterparts. Widening the content-based appeal of psychiatry and optimising the medical school experience of the specialty via varied and high-quality placements may be a key step towards tackling the national shortfall in qualified psychiatrists. Originality/value This is the first published study comparing medical student and psychiatric doctor perceptions of a career in psychiatry.

Flipping the Medical School Classroom

2018 ◽  
pp. 5800-5809
Author(s):  
Kristina Kaljo ◽  
Laura Jacques
Keyword(s):  
Medical Education ◽  
Medical Student ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Clinical Skills ◽  
Medical Knowledge ◽  
Hybrid Learning ◽  
Teaching Methodologies ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Content Acquisition ◽  
Hybrid Learning Environment

The preparation of today's physicians is a tremendous responsibility. For medical students to be successful, they must experience a multitude of opportunities to develop appropriate clinical skills, problem solving acumen, and medical knowledge. Due to various barriers, medical students may develop gaps in critical and foundational knowledge. The use of flipped lectures has the capacity to “mobilize” education and ensure for versatility and improved content acquisition through the implementation of both online and face-to-face teaching methodologies. This hybrid learning environment has the capacity to also address the increasingly diverse needs of today's matriculating medical student. This article identifies tools and strategies of how to incorporate flipped lectures into medical education.

Competency-Based Medical Education in Radiology: A Survey of Medical Student Perceptions

2020 ◽  
pp. 084653711989366
Author(s):  
Joseph Yang ◽  
Danny Jomaa ◽  
Omar Islam ◽  
Benedetto Mussari ◽  
Corinne Laverty ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Medical Education ◽  
Medical Student ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Student Perceptions ◽  
Diagnostic Radiology ◽  
Competency Based Medical Education ◽  
Residency Programs ◽  
Radiology Residency ◽  
Competency Based ◽  
Almost All

Purpose: Implementing competency-based medical education in diagnostic radiology residencies will change the paradigm of learning and assessment for residents. The objective of this study is to evaluate medical student perceptions of competency-based medical education in diagnostic radiology programs and how this may affect their decision to pursue a career in diagnostic radiology. Methods: First-, second-, and third-year medical students at a Canadian university were invited to complete a 14-question survey containing a mix of multiple choice, yes/no, Likert scale, and open-ended questions. This aimed to collect information on students’ understanding and perceptions of competency-based medical education and how the transition to competency-based medical education would factor into their decision to enter a career in diagnostic radiology. Results: The survey was distributed to 300 medical students and received 63 responses (21%). Thirty-seven percent of students had an interest in pursuing diagnostic radiology that ranged from interested to committed and 46% reported an understanding of competency-based medical education and its learning approach. The implementation of competency-based medical education in diagnostic radiology programs was reported to be a positive factor by 70% of students and almost all reported that breaking down residency into measurable milestones and required case exposure was beneficial. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that medical students perceive competency-based medical education to be a beneficial change to diagnostic radiology residency programs. The changes accompanying the transition to competency-based medical education were favored by students and factored into their residency decision-making.

Scores on the Profile of Nonverbal Sensitivity: A Sample of Australian Medical Students

1988 ◽  
Vol 62 (3) ◽  
pp. 903-906 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. J. Evans ◽  
G. J. Coman ◽  
R. O. Stanley
Keyword(s):  
Medical Education ◽  
Medical Student ◽  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Normative Data ◽  
Nonverbal Sensitivity

Scores of a sample of Australian medical students on the Profile of Nonverbal Sensitivity are compared with the normative data. The comparison suggests that these medical students' scores are generally slightly higher than those of the normative group but comparable to those of USA college and medical student samples. A comparison of 4th and 6th Year medical student samples indicated no differences between measures. These data will be further used in a longitudinal study of the effects of traditional medical education on students' consulting skills.

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