Changes in themes over time from medical student journaling.
BACKGROUND
There has been little exploration of journaling in medical student education.


OBJECTIVE
To document the themes on which medical students reflect during training.


METHODS
We evaluated journals kept by primary care medical students to identify prominent themes and determine change or constancy in themes over time. We looked at third-year medical students participating in a required primary care clerkship in a university-affiliated, community-based family medicine residency program with a rural catchment area.


METHODS
During 1994-1996 and 2001-2003, students were asked to keep weekly journals reflecting on their thoughts and feelings regarding "topical content, course processes and methods, and personal reflections on becoming a doctor." Faculty evaluated journals to identify change or constancy in themes over time.


RESULTS
Prominent themes included gender issues, professional identity emergence, career choice, and rural practice, the experience of learning, the experience of relating to patients, and the nature of medical practice.


CONCLUSIONS
We found both constancy and change in student journal themes over time. Changes in journal themes appeared to correlate with outside events and educational trends, including increased attention to reflective practice, changing demographics in medicine and the increasing acceptance of female physicians, and personal life events.
Cayley
William
W
University of Wisconsin Department of Family Medicine at the Eau Claire Family Medicine Residency, USA. bcayley@yahoo.com
Schilling
Rae
R
Suechting
Ralph
R
D000328:Adult; D002982:Clinical Clerkship; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate / Q000379:methods*; D005194:Family Practice / Q000193:education*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013337:Students, Medical; D014956:Writing