Struggles With Sex and Gender. Perspectives of First Year Medical Students: A Focus Group Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 216
Author(s):  
Theodora Teunissen ◽  
Joni Scholte ◽  
Fransica Van der Meulen ◽  
Antoinette Lagro-Janssen ◽  
Cornelia Fluit
Keyword(s):  
Gender Differences ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Medical Training ◽  
Medical Curriculum ◽  
First Year ◽  
Sex And Gender ◽  
Focus Group Study ◽  
And Gender ◽  
First Year Medical Students ◽  
Sex And Gender Differences

Sex and gender are important determinants of healthcare that need to be taken into account for medical teaching. Education is more effective if tailored to students’ subjectively-perceived needs and connected to their prior knowledge and opinions. This study explored first-year medical students thoughts about sex and gender differences in general and in specifically in healthcare, and what their educational preferences are in learning about these concepts during their medical training. Therefore six focus groups were conducted with 26 first-year medical students, 7 male and 19 female students, within one Dutch medical faculty. The discussions were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. After that a thematic analysis was performed which included descriptive coding, interpretative coding, and definition of overarching themes.  Three major themes were identified. (1) Students’ self-perception of concepts sex and gender, including three major domains: (a) The unavoidable allocation of individuals to groups, (b) The role of stereotypes, and (c) The effect of sex/gender on career choice options. (2) Students’ goal orientedness in learning about sex/gender. (3) Students’ struggles between the binary system of medicine and the complexity of reality. Continuous reflection during medical school might help medical students to acquire sex- and gender-sensitive competencies that can be applied in their future work. To increase awareness about the influence of sex and gender differences in healthcare and on career choices, we recommend addressing these themes explicitly early on in the medical curriculum.

scholarly journals Personal values as early predictors of emotional and cognitive empathy among medical students

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefano Ardenghi ◽  
Giulia Rampoldi ◽  
Marco Bani ◽  
Maria Grazia Strepparava
Keyword(s):  
Gender Differences ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Personal Values ◽  
Cognitive Empathy ◽  
Early Years ◽  
Reactivity Index ◽  
First Year ◽  
Early Predictors ◽  
And Gender ◽  
First Year Medical Students

AbstractThe present study contributes to the literature by examining the association between personal values (PVs), assessed with the Schwartz’s Portrait Values Questionnaire, and empathy, assessed with the Davis’ Interpersonal Reactivity Index, in a sample of first-year medical students. We also examined medical students’ PVs profile and gender differences in terms of PVs. All participants (N = 398) were Italian, young (average age = 19.62 years, SD = 1.22), and unmarried; none had children. Zero-order correlations and hierarchical multiple regression models were performed to verify the association between PVs and empathy; in contrast, t-tests were run to explore gender differences in scoring on PVs. Benevolence and Universalism correlated positively with both the emotional and cognitive dimensions of empathy, whereas Power, Achievement, Hedonism, and Security were negatively associated with empathy. The three most important PVs in the whole sample were Benevolence, Self-Direction, and Universalism. Male medical students outscored their female counterparts on Power, Achievement, and Hedonism, whereas female students outscored the males on Benevolence, Universalism, Conformity, and Tradition. Our findings highlight the importance of fostering self-transcending PVs and discouraging self-enhancing PVs in medical students during the early years of medical school, as a means of supporting other-oriented responses such as empathy in future doctors.

PERCEIVED STRESS IN UNDERGRADUATE MEDICAL AND NON-MEDICAL STUDENTS OF ANDAMAN & NICOBAR ISLANDS – A COMPARATIVE STUD

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Deepa Devadas ◽  
Urmila Sinha ◽  
Sanjay Kumar
Keyword(s):  
Medical Students ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Medical Training ◽  
Medical Curriculum ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
First Year ◽  
Undergraduate Medical Students ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Nicobar Islands ◽  
First Year Medical Students

Background: First year of medical training is a challenging period in the life of medical students. Adjusting to a demanding medical curriculum along with sudden transition to a medical college environment makes first year medical students vulnerable to stress. No studies have been reported so far on stress in medical students from the Andaman& Nicobar Islands. Aim: To evaluate the levels of perceived stress and explore its causes in first year medical students of Andaman Islands and compare it with non medical age matched students. Materials & Methods: A comparative study was done on a total of 182 first year students (89 medical and 93 non-medicals) of Andaman & Nicobar Islands. After obtaining informed consent, an anonymous self-administered questionnaire was distributed to the study participants. The questionnaire included their sociodemographic details & Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) and stressors. The data was analyzed using SPSS software version 21. Results: The mean PSS score as measured by PSS-10 was 23.9+/- 6.15 SD in medical and 18.82 +/- 5.58 SD in non medical students. Independent sample t test demonstrated higher levels of perceived stress in medical students as compared to non medical students. Chi square test revealed association of higher PSS scores with the medical course of study. The most common stressors described by first year medical students belonged to the academic domain. Conclusion: Higher levels of perceived stress occurs in medical students which highlights need for implementation of appropriate stress management strategies to help students adjust to the demanding curriculum. Keywords: Stress, medical education, undergraduate, medical students, PSS-10

Sex and Gender Differences

2012 ◽  
Vol 220 (2) ◽  
pp. 57-60 ◽  
Author(s):  
Markus Hausmann ◽  
Barbara Schober
Keyword(s):  
Gender Differences ◽  
Sex And Gender ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Sex And Gender Differences

scholarly journals Influence of sex and gender on the management of late-stage knee osteoarthritis

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Moretti ◽  
A. Spinarelli ◽  
G. Varrassi ◽  
L. Massari ◽  
A. Gigante ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gender Differences ◽  
Knee Osteoarthritis ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Pain Tolerance ◽  
Exact Nature ◽  
Sex And Gender ◽  
Physician Practices ◽  
Knee Oa ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Sex And Gender Differences

Abstract Purpose The exact nature of sex and gender differences in knee osteoarthritis (OA) among patient candidates for total knee arthroplasty (TKA) remains unclear and requires better elucidation to guide clinical practice. The purpose of this investigation was to survey physician practices and perceptions about the influence of sex and gender on knee OA presentation, care, and outcomes after TKA. Methods The survey questions were elaborated by a multidisciplinary scientific board composed of 1 pain specialist, 4 orthopedic specialists, 2 physiatrists, and 1 expert in gender medicine. The survey included 5 demographic questions and 20 topic questions. Eligible physician respondents were those who treat patients during all phases of care (pain specialists, orthopedic specialists, and physiatrists). All survey responses were anonymized and handled via remote dispersed geographic participation. Results Fifty-six physicians (71% male) accepted the invitation to complete the survey. In general, healthcare professionals expressed that women presented worse symptomology, higher pain intensity, and lower pain tolerance and necessitated a different pharmacological approach compared to men. Pain and orthopedic specialists were more likely to indicate sex and gender differences in knee OA than physiatrists. Physicians expressed that the absence of sex and gender-specific instruments and indications is an important limitation on available studies. Conclusions Healthcare professionals perceive multiple sex and gender-related differences in patients with knee OA, especially in the pre- and perioperative phases of TKA. Sex and gender bias sensitivity training for physicians can potentially improve the objectivity of care for knee OA among TKA candidates.

Rethinking an Assessment of Nicotine Dependence: A Sex, Gender and Diversity Analysis of the Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence

2007 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 59-67 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lindsay Richardson ◽  
Lorraine Greaves ◽  
Natasha Jategaonkar ◽  
Kirsten Bell ◽  
Ann Pederson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gender Differences ◽  
Nicotine Dependence ◽  
Diversity Analysis ◽  
Sex And Gender ◽  
Accurate Picture ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Diverse Groups ◽  
Sex And Gender Differences

AbstractThis article assesses whether the Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND), adequately reflects sex, gender and diversity related differences in nicotine dependence. Available studies on the FTND were reviewed and a sex, gender and diversity analysis (SGBA) of this instrument was conducted. Results indicate that sex and gender differences in nicotine dependence may undermine the ability of the FTND to present an adequate picture of dependence. Conducting a SGBA on this Fagerstrom test reveals that sex and gender differences likely limit the ability of this instrument to present an accurate picture of dependence in diverse groups. Further research is needed to enhance the sensitivity of the FTND.

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