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We are writing to raise an issue that we, and our peers, have come across first hand as medical students consulting about our health.
It is common for doctors to ask you what you study as a student. This piece of information sometimes allows discussions and builds rapport; however, it can result in unwanted consequences. Once revealing you are a medical student it is put in your notes, resulting in this information being known by other doctors before you tell them yourself. Although the need to know the social history of a patient is understandable, at times this can leave you feeling somewhat ambushed. Further, this information results in assumptions being made about you.
Once a doctor is aware that you are a medical student, they often rush over their management plan, assuming higher knowledge than you may have. As medical students, we are often proud, and thus feel unable to interject to ask for an explanation at a lower level.
Another important area where it affects quality of care is mental health. This is a key issue, as approximately one-third of medical students worldwide experience depression.1 Often it takes individuals time and courage to seek medical help regarding this. It is therefore difficult when you face comments such as ‘It’s fairly normal at your medical school’ or ‘Most doctors face burn out at one point’. Although these facts may be true, it reduces the individual feelings despite the troubles they may be facing internally.
Finally, it is not uncommon for students to hide their medical student status when consulting regarding their sexual health, for the fear they may be branded ‘irresponsible for a medical student’. Although this may not be the case, it is certain that medical students are expected to have a responsibility to be champions of excellent health and portray this to their non-medical student counterparts.
Although these experiences do not occur in all consultations, on discussion with peers we found that all had some negative experiences after they disclosed studying medicine. So why is it important? Why is it permanently in my medical records?
- © British Journal of General Practice 2020