April 17, 2011 GUEST BLOG POST by Autumn Ciliberto
I recently read some interesting research that addresses this question. It was conducted by Dahlin in 2007: “Burnout and Psychiatric Morbidity among Medical Students Entering Clinical Training: a Three Year Prospective Questionnaire and Interview-based Study.” This article covered the important subject matter of dealing with medical students still in their college practices, graduating with anxiety and incompetent speaking skills.
The medical students are doing 16+ hour days–doing school work and then going to practice within the hospitals. The researchers worked with first year medical students to compare their stress levels to the third year program students. They wanted to learn if trait anxiety and vulnerability was present in students before reaching the third year, and what effect this anxiety had on the medical students’ communication skills with patients.
The research revealed a high burnout rate among medical students who showed depressive symptoms and/or financial concerns in the first year. At the third year, a significant number of medical students had anxiety and/or depressive symptoms, but few were willing to seek help–perhaps worrying about the effects on their career. This may affect the communication between these future doctors and their patients. The researchers conclude that, “There is evidence that mental distress during medical school predicts later problems in physicians, which in addition to the personal suffering of the individual doctor might negatively affect patient care” (Dahlin, p.1)…
Dahlin, M.E. (2007). Burnout and Psychiatric Morbidity among Medical Students Entering Clinical Training: a Three Year Prospective Questionnaire and Interview-based Study. Biomed Central Medical Education, 7, 6.
I feel that this article talks about something that should be looked into farther. We have to realize that doctors are normal people who are under an enormous amount of stress. Not only is there an an enormous amount of pressure that surrounds the job daily, but learning that there are 16+ hours of work daily to become a doctor makes me have even more respect for the job that they do. The research shows that these doctors get burnt out by the third year. Some days will be more stressful than others, such as when a doctor has to give a patient bad news. This is an important aspect of the job and there should be a way to help doctors better deal with stress.
I think that it is important to create some sort of system to better prevent burnout. It is important because we need our health providers and team to be healthy and ready to respond. Stressors such as paying off those lofty medical school loans and handeling the day to day operations at the hospital are obvious areas that would spark the transformation of a nurse or doctor to begin showing symptoms of burning out that will not only affect their careers but also the lives of the people that they are treating. Doctors and nurses work as a team, and when one member is lacking the whole team is effected.
This topic is very important to ponder about. Medical doctors are very important to keep healthy because they are the individuals that help to keep the world healthy. It was very striking to me that the medical students knew they were struggling with anxiety and depression symptoms but refused to get help because they fear the negative effects it would have on their medical careers.
The topic can also relate to Theory of Reasoned Actions. The doctors understand the seriousness of anxiety and depression and the norms society has about anxiety and depression, but actually believe that asking for help with their anxiety and depression will affect them negatively in the end. The attitudes of the medical students is that asking for help with their anxiety and depression symptoms will hinder their careers. Their behavioral intention is to hide their symptoms of anxiety and depression. Their actual behavior in the end is they keep their struggles to themselves.
It is a shame that medical doctors and students believe they cannot receive help for anxiety and depression because of their belief that it will hinder their careers. Humans struggle with anxiety and depression, and in reality, doctors are human and struggle with anxiety and depression as well. I believe something should be done to help medical students negative belief that showing symptoms of anxiety and depression will negatively affect their careers.
This article in important to think about in terms of the transtheoretical model of behavior change. This medical students are being burn out and stressed as they are still in the contemplation stage of their career. Although these students are “preparing” for their career as doctors, they are still thinking about what path they want to take and where they want to focus their studies as medical students.
If these students are being burn out in the contemplation stage how is this going to effect stages down the line. Hopefully they have come far enough to not feel divergence, but what happens in the action and maintenance stage. Doctors do have the highest rate for suicide, divorce, and alcoholism. This study supports that case since these students are only thinking about their career path and they already seem burnt out.
I think this article offers a valid point and supportive information that during the preparation stage of the transtheoretical model, doctors and medical students need to be offered ways of dealing with stress and anxiety in the work place. This well help not only the doctors themselves, but the communication between the doctors and the patients.