The loss of student idealism in the 3rd-year clinical clerkships.
The purpose of this study was to specify how student attitudes toward different types of patients and the profession change during clinical rotations. A questionnaire was given to all medical students prior to 3rd-year rotations regarding their attitudes toward the medical profession and patient types. It was given again after students completed their 16-week medicine-surgery clerkship. Eighty-eight of 96 students responded to pre- and posttests. Students became less idealistic toward two patient groups: the elderly and people with chronic pain. After clerkship, students believed a greater percentage of the elderly were demented (26% increasing to 35%, p = .09 and that a greater percentage of patients with chronic pain are drug seekers (15% increasing to 24%, p = .004). The authors conclude that in the 3rd year of medical school students become less idealistic toward elderly patients, those with chronic pain, and the profession.
University of Kentucky College of Medicine, USA.
C H
CH
Griffith
J F
JF
Wilson
D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002908:Chronic Disease; D002982:Clinical Clerkship; D006801:Humans; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States