Korean Medical Education Review 2017;19(1):36-46

Explanatory Study of Medical Students' Perception of Life Concept

Hyo Hyun YOO 1 ; Jun Ki LEE ; Sein SHIN

Affiliations

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Keywords

Life; Concept; Medical students; Perception

Country

Republic of Korea

Language

Korean

Abstract

This study surveyed 506 medical students on their perception of life concept using an open-ended questionnaire. A constant comparative analysis of participants' written responses was conducted. The results revealed 3 main types and several sub-types of life concept. The main types included: humanities & sociology type, scientific type, and humanities · sociology & science mixed type. The humanities & sociology type had 6 sub-types: religious values, ethical values, limited time, social characteristics, consciousness · spirit · soul, and mixed type. The scientific type had 4 sub-types as follows: respiration & metabolism, genetic & reproduction, homeostasis & emergent property, and mixed type. The most prevalent type was the perception that life concept, ethical values in humanities & sociology type. The understanding of the concept of life is essential to medical students' learning and improvement of professional competence. These results may suggest a meaningful direction for medical education regarding the concept of life.