Concepts of health and illness in entering medical students; first part of a prospective study.

The objective of this prospective study is to assess curriculum-related factors which might influence both concepts of health and illness and health behaviour. A representative sample of 546 freshmen enrolled at the University of Berne, entering medical students and a control group of freshmen in other faculties, were surveyed on their subjective concepts of illness and health. The questionnaire described as "Health and illness concept Scales" (HICS) was mailed out shortly before the beginning of school, and was returned by 70%. The prospective medical view of health and illness before entering professional training, contrary to the hypothesis of "anticipatory socialisation". Their general concept of illness and health was found to be distinctly naturalistic rather than psychosocial in nature. While psychosocial factors were considered to be rather irrelevant by both cohort of students, individual health behaviour and the ability to recognize warning signs of impending hazard to one's health were given high priority.