EMOTIONAL EXPERIENCES OF UNDERGRADUATE MEDICAL STUDENTS: A QUALITATIVE PERSPECTIVE

EMOTIONAL EXPERIENCES OF UNDERGRADUATE MEDICAL STUDENTS: A QUALITATIVE PERSPECTIVE

Blog Article

OBJECTIVES: To explores the distressful emotional experiences and coping strategies of undergraduate medical students from a public-sector medical college of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.METHODS: A qualitative narrative inquiry based on cognitive appraisal theory of emotion was conducted from May 2018 to October 2019.Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of 15 undergraduate students qn85q80aafxza of a public-sector medical college of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan having high risk of psychological distress, as identified through Kessler psychological distress scale.The narratives were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using framework analysis.

RESULTS: Out of 15 students, 8 (53.3%) were females and 7 (46.7%) were males.All students were residing in hostels.

Out of 15 students, 4 (26.7%) were from first professional year, 2 (13.3%) were from 4th year and 3 (20.0%) each from 2nd, 3rd & final professional year MBBS class.

The participants reported intrapersonal, interpersonal and systemic experiences resulting in feelings of shame, inadequacy, insult, 15-fc0093dx anger and sadness.The severity of distress reduced from first to final professional year.They adopted various coping strategies for example, some kept quiet and/or submitted, while others confronted and/or looked for means to divert attention.Some cried out loud and others prayed and/or used sleeping pills.

CONCLUSION: The undergraduate medical students experience emotionally difficult and diverse intrapersonal, interpersonal and systemic situations.They use emotions-focused, problem-focused and meaning-focused strategies to cope up in such situations.Medical students need to be protected from preventable causes of morbidity and mortality.The institutions should offer student counseling services in the campuses.