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The emotions of graduating medical students about prior patient care experiences.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Clay, AS; Ross, E; Chudgar, SM; Grochowski, CO; Tulsky, JA; Shapiro, D
Published in: Patient Educ Couns
March 2015

OBJECTIVES: To determine the emotional responses to patient care activities described by fourth year medical students. METHODS: Qualitative content analysis for emerging themes in letters written by graduating medical students to patients during a Capstone Course. The patient need not be alive and the letter would never be sent. RESULTS: Six themes emerged from student letters: (1) Sorrow for the depths of patient suffering; (2) Gratitude towards patients and their families; (3) Personal responsibility for care provided to patients; (4) Regret for poor care provided by the student or student's team; (5) Shattered expectations about medicine and training; and (6) Anger towards patients. Students expressed sensitivity to vulnerable patients, including those who were alone, unable to communicate, or for whom care was biased. Students' expressed powerlessness (inability to cure, managing a work-life balance, and challenges with hierarchy) in some essays. CONCLUSION: At graduation, medical students describe strong emotions about previous patient care experiences, including difficulty witnessing suffering, disappointment with medicine, and gratitude to patients and their families PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Providing regular opportunities for writing throughout medical education would allow students to recognize their emotions, reflect upon them and promote wellness that would benefit students and their patients.

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Published In

Patient Educ Couns

DOI

EISSN

1873-5134

Publication Date

March 2015

Volume

98

Issue

3

Start / End Page

344 / 349

Location

Ireland

Related Subject Headings

  • Terminal Care
  • Students, Medical
  • Qualitative Research
  • Public Health
  • Patient Care
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Female
  • Emotions
  • Education, Medical, Undergraduate
 

Citation

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Clay, A. S., Ross, E., Chudgar, S. M., Grochowski, C. O., Tulsky, J. A., & Shapiro, D. (2015). The emotions of graduating medical students about prior patient care experiences. Patient Educ Couns, 98(3), 344–349. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2014.11.023
Clay, Alison S., Elizabeth Ross, Saumil M. Chudgar, Colleen O’Connor Grochowski, James A. Tulsky, and Dan Shapiro. “The emotions of graduating medical students about prior patient care experiences.Patient Educ Couns 98, no. 3 (March 2015): 344–49. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2014.11.023.
Clay AS, Ross E, Chudgar SM, Grochowski CO, Tulsky JA, Shapiro D. The emotions of graduating medical students about prior patient care experiences. Patient Educ Couns. 2015 Mar;98(3):344–9.
Clay, Alison S., et al. “The emotions of graduating medical students about prior patient care experiences.Patient Educ Couns, vol. 98, no. 3, Mar. 2015, pp. 344–49. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/j.pec.2014.11.023.
Clay AS, Ross E, Chudgar SM, Grochowski CO, Tulsky JA, Shapiro D. The emotions of graduating medical students about prior patient care experiences. Patient Educ Couns. 2015 Mar;98(3):344–349.
Journal cover image

Published In

Patient Educ Couns

DOI

EISSN

1873-5134

Publication Date

March 2015

Volume

98

Issue

3

Start / End Page

344 / 349

Location

Ireland

Related Subject Headings

  • Terminal Care
  • Students, Medical
  • Qualitative Research
  • Public Health
  • Patient Care
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Female
  • Emotions
  • Education, Medical, Undergraduate