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"Neurophobia": More Nurture than Nature?
1University College Dublin School of Medicine and Medical Sciences, University College Dublin, Stillorgan Rd, Belfield, Dublin 4.
Aim:
"Neurophobia" is the fear of neurology experienced by medical students. The aim of this study was to investigate if neurology now has a stigma attached to it causing a preconceived negative perception of neurology by students.
Methods:
An online questionnaire was distributed to medical students via social media and email. Questions focused on students' perceptions of neurology before and after exposure to the subject.
Results:
There were one hundred and thirty-seven responses. Twenty percent of preclinical students, twenty-six percent of early clinical students and fifty-six percent of clinical students said that they would not consider neurology as a speciality in the future. Neurophysiology and neuroanatomy were considered to be the most difficult aspects of neurology. Integration of preclinical academic training with clinical training was highlighted as a point of difficulty for students.
Discussion:
Contrary to our initial hypothesis, "neurophobia" does not appear to be innate in medical students but is acquired during the course of their medical training.
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