scholarly journals A Holistic Approach of Personality Traits in Medical Students: An Integrative Review

Author(s):  
Nicoleta Suciu ◽  
Lorena Elena Meliț ◽  
Cristina Oana Mărginean

Personality is one of the most crucial aspects of human life, since it influences all human behaviours in both personal and social life, and might also trigger important conflicts with a person’s surroundings in the setting of incompatible traits and characteristics. It is true that ‘one must be born’ for a certain medical specialty, but several components of personality might be educated with proper training. Increased levels of Conscientiousness, Agreeableness, and Openness associated with lower levels of Neuroticism might represent the key combination for achieving professional satisfaction in the medical profession. Medical students should receive proper interprofessional education, since effective interprofessional relationships among healthcare providers definitely improve patients’ safety. Empathy contributes to effective patient–physician communication, improving patient trust, compliance, and satisfaction, being positively correlated with Openness, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness and Extraversion. Emotional intelligence—the capacity to respond to one’s own and others’ emotions—was proven to contribute, in a synergistic way with empathy, to increasing empathic ability. Clinical communication skills represent a key component in medical students in order to achieve the best patient care, and they are certainly related and/or influenced by empathy, interprofessional collaboration skills, emotional intelligence and, especially, personality traits. Taking into account the complex interactions mentioned above, the implementation of effective courses based on these concepts in medical students, intending to promote the development of clinical communication skills, represents a real emergency, since it might result in a reduction in medical errors and subsequent related deaths. A thorough understanding of students’ personality is mandatory before designing these courses in order to provide a training tailored to their personality styles.

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 238212052110283
Author(s):  
Taylor M Coe ◽  
Trevor J McBroom ◽  
Sarah A Brownlee ◽  
Karen Regan ◽  
Stephen Bartels ◽  
...  

Background: Patient care restrictions created by the COVID-19 pandemic constrained medical students’ ability to interact directly with patients. Additionally, organ transplant recipients faced increasing isolation due to the rise of telemedicine, the importance of social distancing and their immunosuppressed state. We created a pilot program to pair students with transplant patients for structured, virtual encounters and studied its impact on medical students and patients. Methods: In May 2020, medical students conducted virtual visits with patients via telephone or video conferencing. Patients and students were surveyed regarding their experiences and independent focus groups were conducted. The survey responses and focus group discussions were deidentified, transcribed, and analyzed for themes. Results: Ten participating students were in their first, second, or final year of medical school. The 14 patients were liver or kidney transplant recipients or kidney donors. All interactions lasted longer than 30 minutes, with 56% greater than 1 hour. Three themes emerged related to the student experience: improvement of their clinical communication skills, development of knowledge and attitudes related to organ transplantation and donation, and independent management of a patient encounter. Three themes related to the patient experience: appreciation of the opportunity to share their personal patient experience to help educate future physicians, a cathartic and personally illuminating experience and an opportunity to share the message of donation. Conclusions: This pilot program provided a novel opportunity for virtual student-patient interactions that was feasible, well-received, and mutually beneficial. The use of virtual non-medical patient experiences allowed for experiential learning during which students learned about both clinical medicine and enhanced their communication skills directly from patients. Additionally, patients were able to engage with medical students in a new way, as teachers of clinical interactions, and reported a high level of satisfaction in addition to deriving personal benefit.


2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-25
Author(s):  
Maryam Akbarilakeh ◽  
Fahimeh Fargah ◽  
Katatyoun Razjouyan ◽  
Mitra Rahimzadeh

Background: The ability of communicating with people is of great importance for physicians. Predicting unknown variables like personality traits is one of the important impressive issues in choosing future medical experts in medical training. Regarding this, medical colleges have training programs all around the world. The present study aimed to investigate the attitude toward learning communication skills based on the personality traits of medical students. Materials and Methods: This correlational study was done in 2019 and the participants were medical students who were selected using a convenience sampling method. Zuckerman-Kuhlman personality questionnaire and communication skills attitude scale (CSAS) were used for data collection. CSAS was used to assess positive and negative attitudes. Results: The results showed that only the sociability dimension among the five dimensions of personality had a significant relationship with attitude toward learning communication skills (P=0.018). Moreover, significant relationships of gender (P=0.022), mother’s education level (P=0.049), and residence (P=0.036) with attitude to learning communication skills were found. Conclusion: According to the results, the dimension of demographic characteristics is effective in improving communication skills of medical students. Therefore, it is recommended that it should be considered in medical curriculum development and revision and modifications.


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yinan Jiang ◽  
Lili Shi ◽  
Jinya Cao ◽  
Liming Zhu ◽  
Yue Sha ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The doctor-patient relationship in China has deteriorated in recent years, and poor doctor-patient communication is one of the main reasons. How to effectively carry out doctor-patient communication training originated from the West among Chinese medical students still to be studied. In the past decade, Peking Union Medical College has adopted clinical scenario drama to teach doctor-patient relationship and clinical communication skills. The aim of this study was to introduce clinical scenario dramas and evaluate its effectiveness in promoting doctor-patient relationships and clinical communication skills through students’ self-perceptions in Chinese medical students. Methods This study was a retrospective, self-controlled study and conducted from March 2009 to October 2018. Doctor-patient relationship and communication skills training were administered to all sixth-year medical students, which involved lectures and various clinical scenario dramas. The program totaled 24 h, of which each class session was 3 h, with 8 sessions in total. All students were requested to complete an anonymous 5 likert self-rating survey including self-confidence in using communication skills and self-perceived learning attitude and ability before and at the end of the course. In addition, they were requested to evaluate the curriculum after completion of the course. Results Clinical scenario dramas helped students improve their self-confidence in clinical communication skills except for psychosomatic history taking (p < 0.05). The interests for participation in clinical scenario dramas were higher compared to attending lectures (4.39 ± 0.610 Vs 4.07 ± 0.831, p<0.01). Study participants were highly satisfied in the course setting, teaching instructors and content (4.61 ± 0.546, 4.65 ± 0.535, 4.63 ± 0.534). The self-evaluation results demonstrated that clinical scenario dramas improved the learning ability of medical students (p < 0.05). Conclusion The use of clinical scenario dramas was helpful in teaching doctor-patient communication skills.


Author(s):  
Teng Liaw ◽  
Gregor Kennedy ◽  
Mike Keppell ◽  
John Marty ◽  
Ruth McNair

<span>This paper reports on the development rationale and evaluation of a computer facilitated learning (CFL) package which aimed to assist medical students with their clinical communication skills and develop an integrated biopsychosocial approach to identifying a patient's problems. Using a formative evaluation framework developed at the University of Melbourne the CFL package, </span><em>Communicating with the Tired Patient,</em><span> underwent a three stage review. Initial evaluation consisted of both formal and informal conceptual and technical review by content experts, instructional designers and evaluators. The final stage of the evaluation involved the survey and observation of 110 medical students interacting with the package. Students were very positive about the instructional and interface design of the package and indicated that the package assisted with their understanding of issues associated with clinical communication. Nevertheless, a number of areas were highlighted where either the package or the learning environment could be modified or improved.</span>


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Conor Gilligan ◽  
Sonja Brubacher ◽  
Martine Powell

Abstract Background Effective communication is at the heart of good medical practice but rates of error, patient complaints, and poor clinician job satisfaction are suggestive of room for improvement in this component of medical practice and education. Methods We conducted semi-structured interviews with experienced clinicians (n = 19) and medical students (n = 20) to explore their experiences associated with teaching and learning clinical communication skills and identify targets for improvements to addressing these skills in medical curricula. Results Interviews were thematically analysed and four key themes emerged; the importance of experience, the value of role-models, the structure of a consultation, and confidence. Conclusions The findings reinforce the need for improvement in teaching and learning communication skills in medicine, with particular opportunity to target approaches to teaching foundational skills which can establish a strong grounding before moving into more complex situations, thus preparing students for the flexibility required in medical interviewing. A second area of opportunity and need is in the engagement and training of clinicians as mentors and teachers, with the findings from both groups indicating that preparation for teaching and feedback is lacking. Medical programs can improve their teaching of communication skills and could learn from other fields s to identify applicable innovative approaches.


Author(s):  
Tahir Masud ◽  
Giulia Ogliari ◽  
Eleanor Lunt ◽  
Adrian Blundell ◽  
Adam Lee Gordon ◽  
...  

Abstract Purpose The world’s population is ageing. Therefore, every doctor should receive geriatric medicine training during their undergraduate education. This review aims to summarise recent developments in geriatric medicine that will potentially inform developments and updating of undergraduate medical curricula for geriatric content. Methods We systematically searched the electronic databases Ovid Medline, Ovid Embase and Pubmed, from 1st January 2009 to 18th May 2021. We included studies related to (1) undergraduate medical students and (2) geriatric medicine or ageing or older adults and (3) curriculum or curriculum topics or learning objectives or competencies or teaching methods or students’ attitudes and (4) published in a scientific journal. No language restrictions were applied. Results We identified 2503 records and assessed the full texts of 393 records for eligibility with 367 records included in the thematic analysis. Six major themes emerged: curriculum, topics, teaching methods, teaching settings, medical students’ skills and medical students’ attitudes. New curricula focussed on minimum Geriatrics Competencies, Geriatric Psychiatry and Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment; vertical integration of Geriatric Medicine into the curriculum has been advocated. Emerging or evolving topics included delirium, pharmacotherapeutics, healthy ageing and health promotion, and Telemedicine. Teaching methods emphasised interprofessional education, senior mentor programmes and intergenerational contact, student journaling and reflective writing, simulation, clinical placements and e-learning. Nursing homes featured among new teaching settings. Communication skills, empathy and professionalism were highlighted as essential skills for interacting with older adults. Conclusion We recommend that future undergraduate medical curricula in Geriatric Medicine should take into account recent developments described in this paper. In addition to including newly emerged topics and advances in existing topics, different teaching settings and methods should also be considered. Employing vertical integration throughout the undergraduate course can usefully supplement learning achieved in a dedicated Geriatric Medicine undergraduate course. Interprofessional education can improve understanding of the roles of other professionals and improve team-working skills. A focus on improving communication skills and empathy should particularly enable better interaction with older patients. Embedding expected levels of Geriatric competencies should ensure that medical students have acquired the skills necessary to effectively treat older patients.


Author(s):  
Ryan Whitt ◽  
Gregory Toussaint ◽  
S. Bruce Binder ◽  
Nicole J. Borges

As medical students enter the role of physician, clinical outcomes not only rely on their mastery of clinical knowledge, but also on the effectiveness in which they can communicate with patients and family members. While students typically have numerous opportunities to practice clinical communication with adult patients, such practice in pediatric settings is limited. This study examines if simulated patient (SP) encounters strengthen third-year medical students’ communication skills during the pediatrics clerkship. During 2011-2013, three SP encounters (comprising 3 pediatric scenarios) were incorporated into a pediatrics clerkship at one United States medical school to give students a safe venue to practice advanced communication with observation and direct feedback. Third-year medical students engaged in the scenarios and received both written and oral feedback from an evaluator observing the encounter. With IRB approval, students’ self-perceived confidence and abilities at performing the advanced communication skills were measured using an eightitem, Likert scale questionnaire administered pre and post the SP encounter. Pre- and post-questionnaires (n = 215; response rate, 96%) analyzed using a Wilcoxon-matched pairs signed-rank test demonstrated statistically significant increases in students’ perception of their confidence and abilities regarding their performance (P < 0.05; Bonferroni correction, P < 0.006). There was an increases in student confidence and self-perceived ability in: first, communicating with children and family members of young patients; second, managing confrontational situations involving parents; third, performing a thorough psychosocial history with an adolescent; and fourth, using Evidence Based Medicine to motivate parents.


2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. e59-67 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Walmsley ◽  
Melanie Fortune ◽  
Allison Brown

Background: Regional medical campuses are often challenged with providing effective interprofessional education (IPE) opportunities for medical students that are comparable to those at main campuses. At distributed teaching sites, there is often less IPE infrastructure and fewer learners of other health professions. On the other hand, distributed medical education (DME) settings often have community-based clinical environments and fewer medical students, which can provide unique opportunities for IPE curriculum innovation.Methods: At the Niagara Regional Campus (NRC) of McMaster University, the Horizontal Elective for Interprofessional Growth & Healthcare Team ENhancement (HEIGHTEN) was developed to provide first-year medical students the opportunity to learn from and work alongside nurses in a community hospital. This study assesses HEIGHTEN’s impact on students’ knowledge, confidence, and attitudes towards interprofessional care, as well as student satisfaction with the learning experience using a mixed methods evaluation.Results: Findings suggest that HEIGHTEN provided an enjoyable learning experience, fostered positive interprofessional attitudes and an appreciation for the nursing role. Voluntary participation by medical students was high and increased both within the regional campus and with students from other campuses travelling to participate.Conclusion: This model for IPE can be feasibly replicated by distributed teaching sites to provide medical students with hands-on, experiential learning early in training, leading to positive attitudes and behaviours supporting interprofessional collaboration (IPC).


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhamad Saiful Bahri Yusoff ◽  
Siti Nurma Hanim Hadie ◽  
Mohd Azhar Mohd Yasin

Abstract Background: Stress and burnout commonly threaten the mental health of medical students in Malaysia and elsewhere. This study aimed to explore the interrelations of psychological distress, emotional intelligence, personality traits, academic stress, and burnout among medical students. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 241 medical students. Validated questionnaires were administered to measure burnout, psychological distress, emotional intelligence, personality traits, and academic stress, respectively. A structural equation modelling analysis was performed by AMOS. Results: The results suggested a structural model with good fit indices, in which psychological distress and academic stress were noted to have direct and indirect effects on burnout. The burnout levels significantly increased with the rise of psychological distress (p-value < 0.01) and academic stress (p-value < 0.01). Neuroticism was only found to have significant indirect effects on burnout, whereby burnout increased when neuroticism increased (p-value < 0.010). Emotional intelligence had a significant direct effect on lowering burnout with the incremental increase of emotional intelligence (p-value < 0.05), but it was significantly reduced by psychological distress and neuroticism (p-value < 0.001). Conclusion: This study showed significant effects that psychological distress, emotional intelligence, academic stress, and neuroticism have on burnout. Academic stress and neuroticism significantly increased psychological distress, leading to an increased burnout level, while emotional intelligence had a significant direct effect on reducing burnout; however, this relationship was compromised by psychological distress and neuroticism, leading to increased burnout. Several practical recommendations for medical educators, medical students, and medical schools are discussed.


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