title: Group counseling for medical students with drop-out experiences.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this research was to describe our group counseling methods for medical students with drop-out experiences.
  
  
  METHODS
  Group counseling was offered to 11 medical students with drop-out experiences in their previous second semester. All subjects provided written informed consent before participating and completed a 2-day group counseling program using the Gestalt approach. The self-assertiveness training group counseling program consisted of 6 sessions, each of which lasted 90 minutes. Experience reports by participants after the program and data from semi-structured qualitative interviews were qualitatively analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Program participants reported that they were moderately satisfied with the program regarding its usefulness and helpfulness on self-awareness, understanding, and reminding them of attempts to change behavior. Most students showed heightened levels of sincerity perceptions and positive attitudes in every session. The results demonstrated significant changes in experience in self-esteem, self-recognition, and interpersonal relationships.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A group counseling program using the Gestalt approach could help medical students with drop-out experiences to adjust with 1 year their juniors, enhance their self-esteem, contribute to their psychological well-being, and prevent student re-failure through effective stress management and improved interpersonal relationships.
authors: Pukyong National University, Yangsan, Korea.
authors: Eun Kyung
authors: EK
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Anatomy, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Yangsan, Korea.
authors: Sunyong
authors: S
authors: Baek
authors: Medical Education Unit, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Yangsan, Korea.
authors: Jae Seok
authors: JS
authors: Woo
authors: Medical Education Unit, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Yangsan, Korea.
authors: Sun Ju
authors: SJ
authors: Im
authors: Medical Education Unit, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Yangsan, Korea.
authors: Sun Hee
authors: SH
authors: Lee
authors: Medical Education Unit, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Yangsan, Korea.
authors: Beesung
authors: B
authors: Kam
authors: Medical Education Unit, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Yangsan, Korea.
authors: Sang Yeoup
authors: SY
authors: Lee
authors: Center for Teaching and Learning, Pusan National University, Busan, Korea.
authors: So Jung
authors: SJ
authors: Yun
keywords: Drop-out; Group counseling; Medical students