PEDAGOGICAL AND CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS OF A LONGITUDINAL STUDY ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF INDIVIDUAL HEALTHCARE CONCEPTS THROUGHOUT MEDICAL STUDENTS.

Abstract

It is becoming more and more apparent that medical students face common and complicated mental and physical health care difficulties. It is not uncommon for training-related stresses to be the root cause of emotional distress, mental disease symptoms, and unhealthy substance use. From what the researcher can tell, almost all medical students also note issues with their physical health. The stigmatisation of some diseases and the fact that medical students play the dual role of student and patient make patient care for medical students a challenging and multifaceted issue. Perceived health care requirements, health problems, attitudes towards care, access to services, and care-seeking behaviours were examined longitudinally (between the first and third years of training) using a confidential written survey with sixteen1 items. The dependability of the second survey was measured by reassessing a subgroup of students (n = 33) one month later. Results were assessed using K and Pearson correlations, repeated-measures multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA), and McNamara’s chi-square (chi2) tests. Throughout both stages of training, nearly all students voiced the need for medical attention, and the majority of those students’ mental and physical health issues persisted. Although students were slightly more likely to seek treatment at their medical school during clinical than preclinical training, concerns regarding anonymity and a desire for alternative sites for health care increased. Both the students’ high levels of worry about professional risk due to personal health concerns and their willingness to seek informal care from peers was consistent. Depending on the nature of the health care issue, they were more likely to accept the dual role of patient and student; they also showed a strong propensity to safeguard the privacy of other students, even when faced with situations with possible serious impairment. Over the course of a month, responses remained consistent when retested.