Study provides insight into medical student stress and distress
An article published in the Medical Journal of Australia last week details ways to improve medical student support services and wellbeing teaching, reveals insights into medical student health and wellbeing and reveals that one third of medical students have no General Practitioner.
The study follows multiple overseas studies that have demonstrated medical students experience poorer levels of wellbeing compared to their peers. President of the Australian Medical Students’ Association (AMSA) Ross Roberts-Thomson said ultimately, a medical course will have its ups and downs and while we cannot stop stress altogether, we can change the approach to stress so that we minimise its impact.
“For one, increasing the number of medical students who have their own GP will go a long way to improving student health and wellbeing; AMSA’s Get a GP campaign, has been designed to assist in this process.
“AMSA’s Get a GP program is intended to prompt students to think about their own health and wellbeing as well as advocating for all medical students to find their own GP. Tangibly, this initiative offers a list of GPs willing to bulk-bill medical students in their local area,” said Mr Roberts-Thomson.
The study also reveals information about the approach to wellbeing by universities. It reports that fewer than half of all students felt that support services were adequately promoted and that 44% of students felt that they had not had formal teaching on medical student stress and distress. In addition, it states that 55% of students believed there was a stigma associated with being a medical student undergoing stress and distress.
The study’s lead author, Dr James Hillis, said it is vital that we optimise the approach to wellbeing during medical school, firstly for the medical students, and secondly for when the students become doctors.
“They will continue to experience similar stressors and use similar coping strategies as doctors. It is particularly crucial to break down the stigma, which is a barrier to accessing support,” said Dr Hillis.
AMSA calls on medical schools, and other organisations with an interest in students’ wellbeing, to take note of the results.
Any GP interested in becoming a part of AMSA’s Get A GP campaign should go to www.amsa.org.au/GetAGP.
The AMSA/NZMSA Medical Student Wellbeing Survey results were published in the Medical Journal of Australia: Painting the picture: Australasian medical student views on wellbeing teaching and support services. Hillis JM, Perry WRG, Carroll EY, Hibble BA, Davies MJ, Yousef J. MJA 2010; 192:188-190
Key Survey Findings
- 55% of students believe there is a stigma associated with experiencing stress and distress
- 72% believe there is a stigma being diagnosed with a mental health condition
- 70% have their own general practitioner with only 45% of international students having one
- 71% know of support services at their university, but only 46% believe they are adequately promoted and only 49% know someone (either themself or someone else) who has used them
- 55% believe there is sufficient time allocated to wellbeing teaching and 54% believe it is approached in an appropriate way
- Students want to learn most how to help somebody else cope in a lecture that is part of their course.
