Self-compassion in medical students: a pilot study of its
association with professionalism pressure

J 2021

Self-compassion in medical students: a pilot study of its association with professionalism pressure

SVĚTLÁK, Miroslav, Šárka DAŇHELOVÁ, Barbora KÓŠA, Alena SLEZÁČKOVÁ, Rastislav ŠUMEC et. al.

Basic information

Original name

Self-compassion in medical students: a pilot study of its association with professionalism pressure

Authors

SVĚTLÁK, Miroslav (203 Czech Republic, guarantor, belonging to the institution), Šárka DAŇHELOVÁ (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution), Barbora KÓŠA (703 Slovakia, belonging to the institution), Alena SLEZÁČKOVÁ (703 Slovakia, belonging to the institution) and Rastislav ŠUMEC (703 Slovakia, belonging to the institution)

Edition

BMC Medical Education, London, BMC, 2021, 1472-6920

Other information

Language

English

Type of outcome

Článek v odborném periodiku

Field of Study

50301 Education, general; including training, pedagogy, didactics [and education systems]

Country of publisher

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Confidentiality degree

není předmětem státního či obchodního tajemství

References:

URL

Impact factor

Impact factor: 3.263

RIV identification code

RIV/00216224:14110/21:00122437

Organization unit

Faculty of Medicine

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12909-021-02930-2

UT WoS

000698399000002

Keywords in English

Self-compassion; medical students; professionalism pressure

Abstract

V originále

Background To be a “good doctor” and have “good medical practices” are apparent goals for both medical students and medical faculties. However, the associated implicit and explicit standards could be a source of distress in the form of pressure to achieve professionalism. Self-compassion has been identified as a transtherapeutic factor that plays a crucial role in developing and maintaining mental health. It seems to be an essential meta-skill to learn, especially for medical students who often perceive imperfection as failure. In this pilot study, we investigated the qualities that medical students attribute to the “good doctor” concept, how they perceive themselves compared to this concept, and whether any possible discrepancy between these two perspectives could be associated with self-compassion. Methods Altogether, 301 medical students participated in the study (mean age 22.3 ± 2.1; 71.8 % female). The discrepancy between concepts was measured by a semantic differential consisting of a list of 36 adjectives and antonyms that students repeatedly mentioned in courses in their responses to the question “What should a doctor be like?” Self-compassion was measured by the Self-Compassion Scale. Results The obtained results offer an insight into students’ conceptualization of a “good doctor” and the hierarchy of given characteristics. Statistical analysis revealed significant associations between the discrepancy between the “ideal” doctor concept vs. actual self-perception and Self-Compassion Scale scores. The more students are compassionate to themselves, the lower the discrepancy. Conclusions The current pilot study supports the hypothesis that student self-compassion could play some role in the degree of discrepancy between the ideal “good doctor” image and student self-concept. This result could support the importance of educational interventions developing self-compassion for medical students. The proposed discrepancy measurement could also be a tool for measuring the effect of well-being programs aimed at self-compassion in medical students.

Citovat

SVĚTLÁK, Miroslav, Šárka DAŇHELOVÁ, Barbora KÓŠA, Alena SLEZÁČKOVÁ and Rastislav ŠUMEC. Self-compassion in medical students: a pilot study of its association with professionalism pressure. BMC Medical Education. London: BMC, 2021, vol. 21, No 1, p. 1-7. ISSN 1472-6920. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12909-021-02930-2.

@article{1793866,
   author = {Světlák, Miroslav and Daňhelová, Šárka and Kóša, Barbora and Slezáčková, Alena and Šumec, Rastislav},
   article_location = {London},
   article_number = {1},
   doi = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12909-021-02930-2},
   keywords = {Self-compassion; medical students; professionalism pressure},
   language = {eng},
   issn = {1472-6920},
   journal = {BMC Medical Education},
   title = {Self-compassion in medical students: a pilot study of its association with professionalism pressure},
   url = {https://bmcmededuc.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12909-021-02930-2},
   volume = {21},
   year = {2021}
}

TY  - JOUR
ID  - 1793866
AU  - Světlák, Miroslav - Daňhelová, Šárka - Kóša, Barbora - Slezáčková, Alena - Šumec, Rastislav
PY  - 2021
TI  - Self-compassion in medical students: a pilot study of its association with professionalism pressure
JF  - BMC Medical Education
VL  - 21
IS  - 1
SP  - 1-7
EP  - 1-7
PB  - BMC
SN  - 14726920
KW  - Self-compassion
KW  - medical students
KW  - professionalism pressure
UR  - https://bmcmededuc.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12909-021-02930-2
N2  - Background To be a “good doctor” and have “good medical practices” are apparent goals for both medical students and medical faculties. However, the associated implicit and explicit standards could be a source of distress in the form of pressure to achieve professionalism. Self-compassion has been identified as a transtherapeutic factor that plays a crucial role in developing and maintaining mental health. It seems to be an essential meta-skill to learn, especially for medical students who often perceive imperfection as failure. In this pilot study, we investigated the qualities that medical students attribute to the “good doctor” concept, how they perceive themselves compared to this concept, and whether any possible discrepancy between these two perspectives could be associated with self-compassion. Methods Altogether, 301 medical students participated in the study (mean age 22.3 ± 2.1; 71.8 % female). The discrepancy between concepts was measured by a semantic differential consisting of a list of 36 adjectives and antonyms that students repeatedly mentioned in courses in their responses to the question “What should a doctor be like?” Self-compassion was measured by the Self-Compassion Scale. Results The obtained results offer an insight into students’ conceptualization of a “good doctor” and the hierarchy of given characteristics. Statistical analysis revealed significant associations between the discrepancy between the “ideal” doctor concept vs. actual self-perception and Self-Compassion Scale scores. The more students are compassionate to themselves, the lower the discrepancy. Conclusions The current pilot study supports the hypothesis that student self-compassion could play some role in the degree of discrepancy between the ideal “good doctor” image and student self-concept. This result could support the importance of educational interventions developing self-compassion for medical students. The proposed discrepancy measurement could also be a tool for measuring the effect of well-being programs aimed at self-compassion in medical students.
ER  -

SVĚTLÁK, Miroslav, Šárka DAŇHELOVÁ, Barbora KÓŠA, Alena SLEZÁČKOVÁ and Rastislav ŠUMEC. Self-compassion in medical students: a pilot study of its association with professionalism pressure. \textit{BMC Medical Education}. London: BMC, 2021, vol.~21, No~1, p.~1-7. ISSN~1472-6920. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12909-021-02930-2.

Detailed Information on Publication Record