Facing Loss in Training: Factors Affecting Medical Students' Preparedness to Cope with Patient Death
Poster #: 021
Session/Time: B
Author:
Caitlin M Mea, BA
Mentor:
Kelly A. Thomson, MD
Research Type: Educational
Abstract
INTRODUCTION:
During the clerkship phase of medical school, students frequently are exposed to the death of patients for whom they have been caring. While many have previously experienced the death of a family member or other losses outside of the clinical setting, many students have not experienced the death of a patient and may feel unprepared to handle the complex emotions that accompany these situations. There are few studies that explore medical students' perceived confidence in coping with patient death and how this may be influenced by individual factors. We conducted a survey-based study to assess third-year medical students' sense of preparedness to cope with patient death and investigate possible correlations with previous experiences and demographic features.
METHODS:
An anonymous survey was distributed to third-year medical students at Eastern Virginia Medical School. Students responded to the survey between the end of their pre-clerkship curriculum and the end of their first clerkship. Likert scale and free-response questions were analyzed to explore correlations between previous experiences, demographic data, and any other factors that may contribute to students' perceived readiness to experience the death of a patient. Students indicated how prepared they felt in their ability to cope with patient death on a scale of 0 to 4 (0 = Not at all confident, 1 = A little confident, 2 = Somewhat confident, 3 = Pretty confident, 4 = Completely confident). Two-tailed t-tests were performed to investigate potential correlations.
RESULTS:
Twenty one students responded to the survey. On average, students reported feeling moderately confident in their predicted ability to cope with patient death, with a mean confidence score (CS) of 2.55. On average, those who had experienced the loss of a patient felt more prepared to cope, (CS=2.82 ± 0.75 vs 2.22 ± 0.67), though this was not statistically significant (p=0.06). Males also reported feeling more prepared to cope than females (CS=2.89±0.60 vs 2.30±0.67), though this result was not statistically significant (p=0.07). There was no significant correlation between personal religion or spirituality and perceived ability to cope with patient death (p=0.68).
CONCLUSION:
In a study of medical students at the beginning of their clerkship phase, students report feeling moderately confident in their ability to cope with the death of a patient. Factors associated with being more prepared include previous experience with patient death and male gender, though these did not reach statistical significance. A significant limitation of this study was our sample size (N=21). Including a larger sample size and increasing the power of this study may further elucidate statistical significance. Follow-up studies are planned in order to investigate the impact of patient death during core clerkships and reveal the natural history of students' perceptions as they progress through their education.
During the clerkship phase of medical school, students frequently are exposed to the death of patients for whom they have been caring. While many have previously experienced the death of a family member or other losses outside of the clinical setting, many students have not experienced the death of a patient and may feel unprepared to handle the complex emotions that accompany these situations. There are few studies that explore medical students' perceived confidence in coping with patient death and how this may be influenced by individual factors. We conducted a survey-based study to assess third-year medical students' sense of preparedness to cope with patient death and investigate possible correlations with previous experiences and demographic features.
METHODS:
An anonymous survey was distributed to third-year medical students at Eastern Virginia Medical School. Students responded to the survey between the end of their pre-clerkship curriculum and the end of their first clerkship. Likert scale and free-response questions were analyzed to explore correlations between previous experiences, demographic data, and any other factors that may contribute to students' perceived readiness to experience the death of a patient. Students indicated how prepared they felt in their ability to cope with patient death on a scale of 0 to 4 (0 = Not at all confident, 1 = A little confident, 2 = Somewhat confident, 3 = Pretty confident, 4 = Completely confident). Two-tailed t-tests were performed to investigate potential correlations.
RESULTS:
Twenty one students responded to the survey. On average, students reported feeling moderately confident in their predicted ability to cope with patient death, with a mean confidence score (CS) of 2.55. On average, those who had experienced the loss of a patient felt more prepared to cope, (CS=2.82 ± 0.75 vs 2.22 ± 0.67), though this was not statistically significant (p=0.06). Males also reported feeling more prepared to cope than females (CS=2.89±0.60 vs 2.30±0.67), though this result was not statistically significant (p=0.07). There was no significant correlation between personal religion or spirituality and perceived ability to cope with patient death (p=0.68).
CONCLUSION:
In a study of medical students at the beginning of their clerkship phase, students report feeling moderately confident in their ability to cope with the death of a patient. Factors associated with being more prepared include previous experience with patient death and male gender, though these did not reach statistical significance. A significant limitation of this study was our sample size (N=21). Including a larger sample size and increasing the power of this study may further elucidate statistical significance. Follow-up studies are planned in order to investigate the impact of patient death during core clerkships and reveal the natural history of students' perceptions as they progress through their education.