Several experts investigate the reason for the psychological and physical fatigue of medical students
Jesús Linares, psychologist at the Madrid College of Psychologists, Javier Arias, dean of the Faculty of Medicine at the Complutense University of Madrid (UCM) and Carlos F. Sánchez, dean of Medicine at the Autonomous University of Madrid (UAM). Image taken from Medical Writing
University is one of the stages that young people enjoy the most, however, this requires a greater degree of effort and dedication for all students during the four or five years of the degree. Although all races have their difficulties, experts emphasize that the medicine implies a higher level of mental demand for the students of this profession.
According to the psychologist Jesús Linares, from the College of Psychologists of Madrid: “The medicine It is the race that takes the longest to complete with a total of six years, a comparative indicator with other races of shorter duration”.
Likewise, Linares mentioned that just as it happens with any other occupation of the Health branch such as Nursingare professions that “contain many teaching hours in the mornings and practical hours in the afternoons, which keeps students hooked throughout the day. students“, in terms of time.
In addition, for Linares the career of Medicine has two peculiarities: “On the one hand, the level of competitiveness that exists when entering the race, since a very high grade is needed between Baccalaureate and Selectivity, which makes them carry a different weight on their backs than in other areas. And, on the other hand, is that the students of Medicine They know that, once the university period is over, practically mandatory, they have to take the MIR, which implies another additional weight by assuming more competition between them to be able to access a specialist position”.
To all this, according to Linares, is added that during the specialization “the students they also have to work and study at the same time for an average of four years, depending on the specialty”. For the psychologist, all these aspects “have a lot to do with the level of mental demand they suffer due to the density and temporality that Medicine“.
Tips to better cope with the race Medicine
The psychologist also offers a series of tips for all those who are studying Medicine or go to study it and that they can cope with it. In this sense, Linares reminds the students “work from the organization, dedicating time for rest, leisure, vacations, etc.” A necessary organization before “a totally long-distance race in which they will never stop studying and it will become a way of life. A style in which they will not be able to work as if it were a continuous ‘sprint’ because in the end they will end up psychologically and physically fatigued.
Jesus Linares: “The students of Medicine they cannot take the MIR as the final decision of their lives”
Likewise, the psychologist points out that many students they experience the decision of choosing in the MIR as “something definitive, like a last chance and, with the passage of time, they realize that it is not like that”. Therefore, “the students of Medicine They cannot take the MIR as the final decision of their life and think that they have no other alternative or option to change”.
¿Es Medicine the most mentally demanding race?
For his part, Javier Arias, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine from the Complutense University of Madrid (UCM), shares the same opinion, stating that “Medicine It is one of the most demanding university courses at an intellectual level.” “The skills required in this degree are very extensive and varied,” Arias told this newspaper, adding that its demand and variety is not “only at a scientific-technical level , but also in terms of interpersonal relationships and communication”. In addition, he emphasizes that it is necessary to add the “necessary empathy towards others and the essential ethical values” to practice as a doctor.
Regarding the guidelines and advice that the dean offers to cope with this level of demand, Arias admits that “the studies of Medicine should not be faced as one more task, but the student should try from the beginning to make a real immersion in the career.” “It is true that Medicine supposes an important capacity for renunciation and a great initial effort”, admits the dean of the UCM, adding that “if the student manages to reach the point of understanding, enjoying, and even feeling emotion, for what he studies, from there he can that everything becomes much easier and more rewarding.
Carlos F. Sanchez: “Medicine It is one of the careers that requires the greatest dedication and work on the part of the students“
In addition, Carlos F. Sánchez, dean of Medicine at the Autonomous University of Madrid (UAM) states that the degree in Medicine “It is one of the studies that requires the greatest dedication and work on the part of the students“. “The degree is very condensed and almost all the subjects taught require a significant effort,” says Sánchez to Medical Writing.
The reason for the requirement of this career is due to the fact that in “the first three years of preclinical training, complex subjects with a great content are included, apparently far from the clinic but essential for the training of the doctor”. “During the clinical years, you have to continue learning a great deal of information and, in addition, acquire clinical skills,” Sánchez clarifies, pointing out that “while you acquire that knowledge, you have to integrate it into practice.”
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