Students who wish to specialize in forensic medicine vs. their fellow students: motivations, attitudes and reactions during autopsy practice

Papadodima, Stavroula; Sergentanis, Theodoros N.; Iliakis, Roussos G.; Sotiropoulos, Konstantinos; Spiliopoulou, Chara

doi:10.1007/s10459-007-9065-3

Cited by 7 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 23 publications

(29 reference statements)

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“…Whereas all physical symptoms diminished as the course progressed, a moderate increase in grief was demonstrated. Our previous findings indicate that students become accustomed fairly quickly to the stresses of forensic dissection, but they also suggest that special strategies may be helpful in limiting such problematic psychological issues as grief and the adoption of negative stereotypes (Papadodima et al, 2008a, b).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 84%

“…Paper questionnaires were distributed by the course director to all students and recollected anonymously during the same session. The questionnaire was designed by the education staff of the Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology and has previously been published in full (Papadodima et al, 2008a). Survey items sought to assess 47 student traits, beliefs, and behaviors that might predispose to negative physical or psychological reactions to forensic dissection.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Students' physical and psychological reactions to forensic dissection: Are there risk factors?

Sergentanis

Papadodima

Evaggelakos

et al. 2010

Anatomical Sciences Ed

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The reactions of students to forensic dissection encompass psychologico-emotional and physical components. This exploratory study aimed to determine risk factors for students' adverse physical and psychological reactions to forensic dissection. All sixth-year medical students (n = 304) attending the compulsory practical course in forensic medicine in the 2005-2006 academic year were asked to complete a questionnaire at the conclusion of the five-day course. The questionnaire surveyed physical and psychological reactions (outcomes) and 47 student traits, beliefs, and behaviors (risk factors) that might predispose to adverse reactions. Multivariate ordinal logistic regression yielded five independent risk factors for negative psychological reactions: female gender, stereotypic beliefs about forensic pathologists, a less cognitive and more emotional frame of mind relative to forensic dissection, more passive coping strategies, and greater fear of death. The sole independent risk factor for physical symptoms was a less cognitive/more emotional approach to dissection. Students' reactions to forensic dissection integrate a host of inherent and dissection-related risk factors, and future interventions to improve this aspect of medical education will need to take into account the complexities underlying students' experiences with dissection.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 84%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Students' physical and psychological reactions to forensic dissection: Are there risk factors?

Sergentanis

Papadodima

Evaggelakos

et al. 2010

Anatomical Sciences Ed

Self Cite

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“…[8][9][10] It would appear that there is a degree of ambiguity in their response to the practical rotation, as the sessions were generally regarded as a positive learning experience, with the overall impression receiving a score of >8/10; yet, 30% of the students indicated an emotional aspect (seeing too much of death). An explanation for this discrepancy could be that most of the questions in part A relate to the administration of the rotation (time management, tutorial sessions and assessments), with one question phrased as 'We had sufficient exposure to forensic postmortem examinations (variety of cases) and the medicolegal investigation of death' .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…At the University of Athens, Greece, Papadodima et al [8] indicated that 50% of students who attended forensic autopsies were fearful and anxious, with some experiencing physical symptoms such as nausea. Sergentanis et al [9] did a follow-up study with the objective of identifying risk factors for the psychological reactions experienced during the forensic medical practical rotation.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

The forensic autopsy as a teaching tool: Attitudes and perceptions of undergraduate medical students at the University of Pretoria, South Africa

Toit-Prinsloo

Pickworth

Saayman

2016

AJHPE

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Background. Numerous articles have been published on the use of autopsies in training medical students in anatomy and different branches of pathology. Some authors have described the emotional response of students who attend such postmortem sessions. Forensic pathology is an important subdivision of pathology. In some countries undergraduate medical students are expected to attend postmortem examinations on persons who died from traumatic causes. Objective. To determine the attitudes and perceptions of 5th-year medical students with regard to forensic postmortem examinations at the University of Pretoria, South Africa. Methods. A questionnaire was voluntarily completed by medical students on the last day of the practical rotation. Results. The overall rating of the practical rotation was 82%. The strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) analysis indicated the following as strengths: record keeping, legislation review and traumatology description; as weaknesses: emotional trauma and nightmares; as opportunities: the attendance of autopsies; and as threats: physical dangers. Conclusion. The current study was similar to international studies with regard to students' emotional response to attending autopsies. The autopsy remains a valuable teaching tool for undergraduate students. Emotional support is currently available for all students to assist them in overcoming their fear of attending forensic autopsy sessions.

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“…The shortage of board certified forensic pathologist or those with comparable competence is a serious issue around the world [1][2][3]. Japan is facing the same serious problem.…”

Section: Dear Editormentioning

confidence: 99%

What younger forensic pathologists need for their training: Valuable comments from our interviews

2013

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Students who wish to specialize in forensic medicine vs. their fellow students: motivations, attitudes and reactions during autopsy practice

Abstract: Medical students who want to follow forensics present only small differences concerning their inherent features, beliefs, reactions, emotions and attitudes, compared with the rest of their fellow students.

Cited by 7 publications

References 23 publications

Students' physical and psychological reactions to forensic dissection: Are there risk factors?

Students' physical and psychological reactions to forensic dissection: Are there risk factors?

The forensic autopsy as a teaching tool: Attitudes and perceptions of undergraduate medical students at the University of Pretoria, South Africa

What younger forensic pathologists need for their training: Valuable comments from our interviews

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