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Medical Trainees' Experiences With Dying and Death
Nana Jedlicska1,2, Dagmara Srnová1,2, Laura Scheide1
1Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine, TUM Medical Education Center, Munich, Germany.
Omega
|April 17, 2019
Summary
Medical trainees grapple with patient deaths, experiencing emotional distress and guilt. Key themes include death circumstances, personal relationships, and the trainee
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Psychology
- Sociology
Background:
- Understanding medical trainees' encounters with death is crucial for their professional development.
- Early exposure to patient mortality significantly shapes future physicians' perspectives and coping mechanisms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore and analyze the experiences of medical students and residents confronting patient death.
- To identify key themes and influencing factors in these significant life events.
Main Methods:
- Conducted semistructured interviews with nine medical students and nine residents.
- Analyzed a total of 114 reported experiences of dying and death.
Main Results:
- Three primary themes emerged: circumstances of death, personal relationships, and the trainee's role.
- Factors such as patient age, suffering, setting, and behavior influenced perceptions.
- Close relationships with patients led to significant emotional distress, guilt, and feelings of failure.
Conclusions:
- Medical training involves a tension between emotional engagement and professional detachment.
- The concept of a "physician image" centered on control is prevalent.
- These experiences highlight the need for better support systems for trainees facing mortality.
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