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A report on student abuse during medical training
Ana Margarita Maida1, Alicia Vásquez, Viviana Herskovic
1Pediatrics Department, School of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile.
Medical Teacher
|October 3, 2003
Summary
Medical students frequently experience abuse, with 91.7% reporting incidents from teachers and peers. This abuse negatively impacts mental health and career perceptions, with some considering dropping out.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Student Well-being
- Abuse in Academia
Background:
- Medical training environments can expose students to challenging interpersonal dynamics.
- Understanding student perceptions of abuse is crucial for improving educational settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the incidence of perceived abusive situations during medical training.
- To investigate the consequences of these abusive experiences on medical students.
Main Methods:
- A descriptive study was conducted.
- A survey was administered to fifth-year medical students at the University of Chile.
- 144 out of 181 students completed the questionnaire.
Main Results:
- 91.7% of surveyed students reported experiencing at least one episode of abuse.
- Verbal (85.4%) and psychological (79.9%) abuse were most prevalent, followed by sexual (26.4%) and physical (23.6%).
- Abuse negatively affected students' mental health, social lives, and professional image, with 17% contemplating withdrawal.
Conclusions:
- Abuse is a significant issue within medical education, affecting a vast majority of students.
- The findings highlight the need for interventions to address and prevent abuse in medical schools.
- Educators must reflect on their roles and impact on the learning environment.