BACKGROUND: Studying a specific illness could lead medical students to an incorrect interpretation of certain physical symptoms, so that symptoms which were previously considered normal are now regarded as a true sign of an illness. AIM: To examine the appraisal of self-health state, the existing fear of morbidity and the level of health-related anxiety among medical students throughout medical school. METHODS: Anonymous questionnaires were distributed to first through sixth year medical students at the Tel-Aviv University Medical School. The questionnaires were distributed to all the students who were present on the study days. RESULTS: We observed a significant rise in the emotional-distress process with entering the clinical years followed by a significant decrease later on. Similar pattern was seen in health anxiety and in preoccupation with and fear of illness and death. While the perceptual-cognitive process increased gradually, there was no change in interference with life scores. CONCLUSION: "Medical student's disease" should be regarded as a phenomenon depending on the years of learning. By breaking it down into its components, one can better characterize it and predict its onset. By defining it as a normal process, one can assist in guiding medical students to reduce their level of anxiety and distress.
BACKGROUND: Studying a specific illness could lead medical students to an incorrect interpretation of certain physical symptoms, so that symptoms which were previously considered normal are now regarded as a true sign of an illness. AIM: To examine the appraisal of self-health state, the existing fear of morbidity and the level of health-related anxiety among medical students throughout medical school. METHODS: Anonymous questionnaires were distributed to first through sixth year medical students at the Tel-Aviv University Medical School. The questionnaires were distributed to all the students who were present on the study days. RESULTS: We observed a significant rise in the emotional-distress process with entering the clinical years followed by a significant decrease later on. Similar pattern was seen in health anxiety and in preoccupation with and fear of illness and death. While the perceptual-cognitive process increased gradually, there was no change in interference with life scores. CONCLUSION: "Medical student's disease" should be regarded as a phenomenon depending on the years of learning. By breaking it down into its components, one can better characterize it and predict its onset. By defining it as a normal process, one can assist in guiding medical students to reduce their level of anxiety and distress.
Authors: J M Chinawa; Ada R C Nwokocha; Pius C Manyike; Awoere Tamunosiki Chinawa; Elias C Aniwada; Appolos Chidi Ndukuba Journal: Int J Ment Health Syst Date: 2016-11-24
Authors: Ursula Danner; Alexander Avian; Tanja Macheiner; Beate Salchinger; Nina Dalkner; Frederike T Fellendorf; Armin Birner; Susanne A Bengesser; Martina Platzer; Hans-Peter Kapfhammer; Michel Probst; Eva Z Reininghaus Journal: PLoS One Date: 2017-10-16 Impact factor: 3.240