While hierarchy is essential in many professions, the medical field now exhibits an unbalanced power structure in which superiors rule rather than provide guidance. Strict hierarchies, overwork, exhaustion, and a culture that normalizes power imbalance are all reinforced in hectic, high-pressure clinical settings.
Medical students have experienced high levels of stress for many years, but it wasn’t until the 1980s that researchers started to recognize that abuse—rather than merely academic pressure—was a significant contributor to this stress. It can include physical abuse, discrimination, sexual harassment, bullying, harsh remarks about one’s job choices, and verbal abuse (insults, screaming, harassment). Concern of being called “too sensitive” or troublesome, concern of damaging their career, mistrust of anonymous reporting methods, and the conviction that nothing will change are major reasons why students refrain from reporting.
Depression, burnout, suicidal thoughts, exhaustion, low self-esteem, and poor learning are all consequences of this mistreatment. Research has shown that almost 70% of students rely their choice of specialty on how doctors treat them. Due to abuse, some students even think about leaving medical school.
As a result, the long-held notion that “mistreatment makes you tough enough for medicine” is increasingly contested. Instead than becoming bullies, seniors ought to be mentors. It is necessary to implement institutional and cultural reforms.
Practices to handle stress:
- Talking to trusted staff and friends.
- Exercise and meditation for overall well-being.
- Using the counselling services if available.
- Documenting the incidences with all details.
- There may be other students going through the same stress. They can also join in to deal with the situation.
- Reporting.
MBH/AB