Unveiling the interplay of medical professionalism, mental well-being and coping in medical students: a qualitative phenomenological study.

BMC Med Educ

Department of Medical Education, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia.

Published: January 2025

Background: Medical students face significant stress and challenges that impact their professional development by affecting their levels of medical professionalism (MP), coping ability, and mental well-being (MWB). Given the high-stakes environment of medical education, understanding the interplay between these factors is crucial. This study aims to explore undergraduate medical students' lived experiences of MP, coping strategies (CSs), and MWB to inform the development of effective support systems.

Methods: A qualitative phenomenological study was conducted using Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) to capture the lived experiences of 40 medical students from first, third, and fifth years of study. Participants, selected through purposive sampling, represented diverse backgrounds (with 27 females, 18 fifth-year students, and 30 Malays). Seven FGDs, each with 5-10 participants, were conducted via Zoom©, yielding comprehensive qualitative data. An inductive coding approach was applied through iterative transcript analysis to ensure robust findings.

Results: Analysis revealed two themes related to MWB: 'mental well-being issues,' highlighting persistent mental health challenges, and 'happiness,' illustrating factors that sustain well-being. CSs were categorized into 'positive coping,' including seeking support, and 'negative coping,' such as denial. For MP, two themes emerged: 'inter-medical professionalism,' focusing on communication with others, and 'intra-medical professionalism,' emphasizing ethical self-conduct.

Conclusion: The interplay between CSs, MP, and MWB is complex and deeply intertwined. The findings highlight the importance of developing targeted interventions to support medical students in managing stress, maintaining professionalism, and enhancing their mental well-being throughout their training. Future research should further explore these themes to inform policy and curriculum development in medical education.

Clinical Trial Number: Not applicable.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12909-024-06595-5DOI Listing
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11697919PMC

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

medical students
16
mental well-being
12
medical
9
medical professionalism
8
qualitative phenomenological
8
phenomenological study
8
lived experiences
8
css mwb
8
well-being
5
students
5

Similar Publications

Toward structured abdominal examination training using augmented reality.

Int J Comput Assist Radiol Surg

January 2025

Faculty of Computer Science and Research Campus STIMULATE, Otto-von-Guericke University of Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany.

Purpose: Structured abdominal examination is an essential part of the medical curriculum and surgical training, requiring a blend of theory and practice from trainees. Current training methods, however, often do not provide adequate engagement, fail to address individual learning needs or do not cover rare diseases.

Methods: In this work, an application for structured Abdominal Examination Training using Augmented Reality (AETAR) is presented.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

This study reviews the prevalence of copper (Cu) deficiency in patients for metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS), as well as the long-term outcomes related to the prevalence of Cu deficiency after undergoing MBS. A systematic literature search and meta-analysis were conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus for articles published by August 31, 2024. The search terms included metabolic and bariatric surgery, weight loss surgery, metabolic surgery, obesity surgery, sleeve gastrectomy, gastric banding, gastric bypass, duodenal switch, duodenojejunal bypass, copper, copper deficiency, and hypocuposemia.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Modeling and analysis of explicit dynamics of foot landing.

Med Biol Eng Comput

January 2025

School of Medical Engineering, Department of Cardiology of The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, 453003, Henan, China.

The research aims to investigate the mechanical response of footfalls at different velocities to understand the mechanism of heel injury and provide a scientific basis for the prevention and treatment of heel fractures. A three-dimensional solid model of foot drop was constructed using anatomical structures segmented from medical CT scans, including bone, cartilage, ligaments, plantar fascia, and soft tissues, and the impact velocities of the foot were set to be 2 m/s, 4 m/s, 6 m/s, 8 m/s, and 10 m/s. Explicit kinetic analysis methods were used to investigate the mechanical response of the foot landing with different speeds to explore the damage mechanism of heel bone at different impact velocities.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Introduction: Ultrasound is important in heart diagnostics, yet implementing effective cardiac ultrasound requires training. While current strategies incorporate digital learning and ultrasound simulators, the effectiveness of these simulators for learning remains uncertain. This study evaluates the effectiveness of simulator-based versus human-based training in Focused Assessed with Transthoracic Echocardiography (FATE).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: Free Open Access Medical Education (FOAMed) is an emergent phenomenon within medical education. The rise of FOAMed resources has meant that medical education needs no longer be confined to the lecture theatre or the hospital setting, but rather, can be produced and shared amongst any individual or group with access to internet and a suitable device. This study presents a review of the use of FOAMed resources by students as part of their university medical education.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!