PURPOSE: Medical students construct their identity as a student physician through clinical clerkship. However, there is a lack of research on the effect of clinical clerkship on professional self-concept formation. The aim of this study is to analyze and ascertain the relationship between medical students' satisfaction with clinical clerkship and professional self-concept. METHODS: This investigation studied 84 third- and fourth-year medical students enrolled in the Ajou University School of Medicine and Graduate School of Medicine. Study measures tools included satisfaction with clinical clerkship and professional self-concept measurement. For data analyses, a descriptive analysis of the research variable characteristics was applied, gender differences in variables by years of medical school were analyzed with t-tests, and correlation analysis was used to check for relationships between variables. RESULTS: We found no statistically significant differences between satisfaction with clinical clerkship with respect to medical school year and gender. While professional self-concept did not show significant differences by year of medical school, we observed statistically significant differences by gender with respect to the subscales of professional practice and communication factor. In addition, satisfaction with clinical clerkship and professional self-concept demonstrated statistically significant positive correlation. The present research was able to confirm that there exists a correlation between medical students' clinical clerkship experience and professional self-concept formation. CONCLUSION: Our study outcomes shows that provision of positive assistance as a measure to enhance satisfaction with clinical clerkship via the curriculum and environmental improvement is envisaged to lead to medical students' professional self-concept formation.
Clinical Clerkship ; Curriculum ; Humans ; Professional Practice ; Schools, Medical ; Statistics as Topic ; Students, Medical

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore the experience of medical teachers in the process of adapting flipped learning method through a phenomenological approach. METHODS: Semi-structured interviews with five medical teachers from two medical colleges and one medical school were conducted in December, 2017. Data analysis was done according to Colaizzi's descriptive phenomenological methodology. RESULTS: A total of 160 unique significant statements were extracted. These statements generated 17 formulated meanings that were categorized into seven theme clusters and four theme categories. Main themes were: (1) teacher with high levels of passion and motivation; (2) hurdles of flipped learning: students were still passive, struggling in preparing for flipped learning; (3) positive changes from flipped learning: changes to classroom environment and teachers' reflection through experience; and (4) challenges of flipped learning: remaining tasks for teachers, expansion of flipped learning. CONCLUSION: Through phenomenological approach, researchers were able to elucidate categories about the experience of medical teachers when attempting flipped learning. Although medical teachers did not have the exact same idea on how flipped learning was conducted and implemented, the perception of flipped learning, or difficulties in class activities, they were still wondering how they could teach students well. This study might draw more attention to flipped learning and stimulate educational and institutional supports to improve teaching and learning in medical schools.
Education, Medical ; Humans ; Learning* ; Methods ; Motivation ; Qualitative Research ; Schools, Medical ; Statistics as Topic ; Students, Medical*

INTRODUCTION: Postgraduate medical education in Singapore underwent a major transition recently, from a British-style system and accreditation to a competency-based residency programme modelled after the American system. We aimed to identify the relative importance of factors influencing the choice of sponsoring institution (SI) for residency among medical students during this transition period. METHODS: A questionnaire-based cross-sectional study of Singapore undergraduate medical students across all years of study was performed in 2011. Participants rated the degree of importance of 45 factors (including research, academia and education, marketing, reputation of faculty, working conditions, posting experience and influence by peers/seniors) to their choice of SIs on a five-point Likert scale. Differences in gender and seniority were compared. RESULTS: 705 out of 1,274 students completed the survey (response rate 55.3%). The top five influencing factors were guidance by mentor (4.48 ± 0.74), reputation for good teaching (4.46 ± 0.76), personal overall experience in SI (4.41 ± 0.88), quality of mentorship and supervision (4.41 ± 0.75), and quality and quantity of teaching (4.37 ± 0.78). The five lowest-rated factors were social networking (2.91 ± 1.00), SI security (3.01 ± 1.07), open house impact (3.15 ± 0.96), advertising paraphernalia (3.17 ± 0.95) and research publications (3.21 ± 1.00). Female students attributed more importance to security and a positive working environment. Preclinical students rated research and marketing aspects more highly, while clinical students valued a positive working environment more. CONCLUSION Quality of education, mentorship, experiences during clerkship and a positive working environment were the most important factors influencing the choice of SI.
Accreditation ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Curriculum ; Education, Medical, Graduate ; economics ; organization & administration ; Education, Medical, Undergraduate ; economics ; organization & administration ; Female ; Humans ; Internship and Residency ; Male ; Mentors ; Models, Organizational ; Schools, Medical ; Singapore ; Students, Medical ; statistics & numerical data ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; United States ; Universities

INTRODUCTION: Medical school fees are rising globally. Student debt and financial background may affect residency choices, but few studies have been conducted in Asia. This study aimed to explore the relationship between financial background, student debt and postgraduate residency choices among medical students in Singapore. METHODS: An anonymised survey of all medical students in Singapore was conducted and had a response rate of 67.9%. RESULTS: 40.5% of our study population would graduate with debt. Medical students with monthly per capita household income < SGD 1,000 were more likely to graduate with debt (unadjusted odds ratio [OR] 2.0, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.6-2.7; p < 0.001) and feel burdened by the cost of medical education (unadjusted OR 2.8, 95% CI 2.0-3.9; p < 0.001). Students with monthly per capita household income < SGD 1,000 (unadjusted OR 1.818, 95% CI 1.338-2.470, p < 0.001; adjusted OR 1.692, 95% CI 1.202-2.381, p = 0.003) and those with debt (unadjusted OR 1.623, 95% CI 1.261-2.090, p < 0.001; adjusted OR 1.393, 95% CI 1.048-1.851, p = 0.022) were more likely to rank at least one economic factor as 'very significant' in influencing their postgraduate training choices. CONCLUSION It is concerning that despite financial aid schemes, the cost of medical education remains a burden to students from lower-income households in Singapore. Student debt and financial background may distort postgraduate career choices, creating an undue push towards high-paying specialties.
Career Choice ; Choice Behavior ; Education, Medical ; economics ; Humans ; Internship and Residency ; economics ; Odds Ratio ; Schools, Medical ; economics ; Singapore ; Social Class ; Students, Medical ; statistics & numerical data ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Training Support

End-of-life care competencies have been perceived as important and essential, so it has been suggested that end-of-life care be studied in undergraduate medical education. However, end-of-life care curriculum has mostly focused on acquisition of knowledge and skills rather than attitudes. Therefore, we aimed to explore whether education about death affects medical students' attitudes towards care for dying patients and perception of death anxiety, meaning in life, and self-esteem. A total of 15 first- or second-year medical students were surveyed with questionnaires before and after completing a 6-week death education course. Paired data analysis showed that participants' attitudes towards caring for terminally ill patients and their caregivers improved significantly (t=−2.84, p=0.013) with an effect size of 0.73. In contrast, no significant changes were found in death anxiety, meaning in life, or self-esteem. All participants agreed that formal teaching about death and dying must be encouraged in medical schools. Our results suggest that death education may positively influence attitudes towards end-of-life care. Although replication with larger samples is necessary, this preliminary finding may support the importance of developmentally appropriate end-of-life care education in medical schools.
Anxiety ; Attitude to Death ; Caregivers ; Curriculum ; Education ; Education, Medical, Undergraduate ; Humans ; Schools, Medical ; Statistics as Topic ; Students, Medical ; Terminal Care ; Terminally Ill

OBJECTIVETo investigate the sleep quality and related factors among medical students in China, understand the association between dormitory environment and sleep quality, and provide evidence and recommendations for sleep hygiene intervention.

METHODSA total of 555 undergraduate students were selected from a medical school of an university in Beijing through stratified-cluster random-sampling to conduct a questionnaire survey by using Chinese version of Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and self-designed questionnaire. Analyses were performed by using multiple logistic regression model as well as multilevel linear regression model.

RESULTSThe prevalence of sleep disorder was 29.1%(149/512), and 39.1%(200/512) of the students reported that the sleep quality was influenced by dormitory environment. PSQI score was negatively correlated with self-reported rating of dormitory environment (γs=-0.310, P<0.001). Logistic regression analysis showed the related factors of sleep disorder included grade, sleep regularity, self-rated health status, pressures of school work and employment, as well as dormitory environment. RESULTS of multilevel regression analysis also indicated that perception on dormitory environment (individual level) was associated with sleep quality with the dormitory level random effects under control (b=-0.619, P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONSThe prevalence of sleep disorder was high in medical students, which was associated with multiple factors. Dormitory environment should be taken into consideration when the interventions are taken to improve the sleep quality of students.

Beijing ; epidemiology ; Housing ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Schools, Medical ; Self Report ; Sleep Wake Disorders ; epidemiology ; Social Environment ; Students, Medical ; psychology ; statistics & numerical data

To explore the status of two-week illness in primary and secondary students and to provide the basis for rationally distributing heath resources in primary and secondary schools.
 Methods: Stratified cluster sampling method was used to select 6 744 primary and secondary students aged from 9.0-16.9 years, and the name or symptoms of two-week illness, frequencies, medical expenses and days of sick leave were surveyed by using the self-made questionnaires.
 Results: Respiratory system disease (73.6%) and digestive system diseases (13.2%) were the major two-week illness. When they were ill, 58.9% students went to hospital, 39.9% took medicine by themselves, and 1.2% received non-treatment. The two-week morbidity, sick frequencies, average medical expenses per time and days of sick leave were 12.6%, (1.34±0.81) times, 10.0 yuan, and (0.39±0.98) days, respectively. The two-week sick frequencies, average medical expenses per time and days of sick leave among primary or secondary students were (1.37±0.87) or (1.26±0.69) times, 12.0 or 9.0 yuan, and (0.44±1.14) or (0.30±0.55) days, respectively. There was a positive correlation between two week sick frequencies and medical fees per time, or days of sick leave (r=0.301, r=0.275 for primary students, respectively, P<0.01; r=0.334, r=0.290 for secondary students, respectively, P<0.01). The positive correlation between medical fees per time and days of sick leave was also found (r=0.312, r=0.343 for primary students and secondary students, respectively, P<0.01).
 Conclusion: Characteristics of two-week illness among primary and secondary students possess common symptoms, frequent, low medical expenses per time. The frequencies, medical expenses and days of sick leave in primary students were increased compared with that in secondary students.
Adolescent ; Child ; Digestive System Diseases ; epidemiology ; therapy ; Fees, Medical ; statistics & numerical data ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Respiratory Tract Diseases ; epidemiology ; therapy ; Schools ; Sick Leave ; statistics & numerical data ; Students ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to analyze the differences in the perception of the "good doctor" image between faculty and students, based on the competencies of the "Korean doctor's role." METHODS: The study sample comprised 418 students and 49 faculty members in medical school. They were asked to draw images of a "good doctor," and the competencies were then analyzed using the Draw-A-Scientist test and the social network program Netminer 4.0. RESULTS: Of the competency areas, "communication and collaboration with patient" and "medical knowledge and clinical skills" were the most frequently expressed, and "education and research," "professionalism," and "social accountability" were less commonly expressed. Images of a good doctor by the faculty focused on competencies that were directly related to current clinical doctors. Conversely, those by the students expressed various competencies equally. CONCLUSION: We have provided basic data for faculties and schools to plan various education strategies to help students establish the image of a good doctor and develop the necessary competencies as physicians.
Clinical Competence/*standards ; Data Mining ; Faculty/*psychology ; Humans ; *Perception ; Physician's Role/*psychology ; Republic of Korea ; Schools, Medical ; Statistics as Topic ; Students, Medical/*psychology

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to analyze the effect of the medical research curriculum on the students' satisfaction and the research self-efficacy. METHODS: The curriculum was implemented to 79 graduate medical school students who entered in 2007 and 2008. This curriculum is implemented through 3 years consisting of 5 different sub-courses: Research design, Research ethics, Medical statistics, Writing medical paper, and Presentation. The effect of this program was measured with 2 self-administered surveys to students: the course satisfaction survey and the self-efficacy inventories. The Research Self-Efficacy Scale consisted of 18 items from 4 categories: Research design, Research ethics, Data analysis, and Result presentation. The descriptive statistics, paired t-test, and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) were implemented. RESULTS: The average point of satisfaction of the course was 2.74 out of 4, which told us that students generally satisfied with the course. The frequencies of tutoring for research course were 2 or 3 times on average and each session of tutorial lasted 1.5 to 2 hours. The research self-efficacy in three categories (Research design, Research ethics, and Result presentation) increased significantly (p<0.1). The self-efficacy of the male students was higher than females' one. The self-efficacy was not significantly different by the experience of research paper writing at undergraduate level. CONCLUSION: The curriculum showed positive results in cultivating research self-efficacy of students. There is a need for improvement of the class of Statistical analysis as students reported that it was difficult.
Curriculum ; Education, Medical, Graduate ; Equipment and Supplies ; Ethics, Research ; Humans ; Male ; Research Design ; Schools, Medical ; Self Efficacy ; Statistics as Topic ; Students, Medical ; Writing

INTRODUCTIONThis study compares the attitudes between preclinical and clinical medical students towards radiology, following the introduction of a new radiology curriculum for 1st year students.

MATERIALS AND METHODSRevision of the 1st year medical school curriculum for the academic year of 2008/9 with the inclusion of 13 one-hour formal radiology lectures integrated with each body system was done in an undergraduate Southeast Asian medical school. In the old curriculum, 1st and 2nd year medical students are not exposed to radiology. They received limited radiology teaching in their 3rd and 5th years with 2 one-hour lectures as part of their medicine and surgery rotations. In the 4th year, they have a one week non-examinable posting in radiology. A survey was administered to preclinical (new curriculum) and clinical (old curriculum) students. Survey responses were tabulated and attitudes between preclinical and clinical students were compared.

RESULTSMore than half of the preclinical students (155 out of 270 students, 59%) and 90 out of 720 clinical students (12.5%) responded. Students exposed to the new curriculum had attended one or two dedicated radiology lectures and were considering radiology as a clinical elective. Both groups of students did not feel familiar with radiology as with other specialties, were not considering radiology as a career, but felt that radiology was interesting and important to the overall practice of medicine.

CONCLUSIONSExposure of 1st year students to radiology increases their interest in the subject. Further intervention, fi ne-tuning of the curriculum and follow-up surveys will be carried out to see if this interest persists throughout their clinical years.

Attitude of Health Personnel ; Clinical Clerkship ; Clinical Competence ; statistics & numerical data ; Curriculum ; Education, Medical, Undergraduate ; Educational Measurement ; Educational Status ; Health Care Surveys ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Humans ; Radiology ; education ; Schools, Medical ; statistics & numerical data ; Singapore ; Students, Medical ; psychology ; statistics & numerical data ; Surveys and Questionnaires