Nephrophobia: a retrospective study of medical students' attitudes towards nephrology education.
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ABSTRACT: Background
Nephrology is a subject which is challenged by a lack of applicants for trainee places. This study addresses the attitudes of medical students towards the subject and explores the causes of this lack of interest amongst potential specialty trainees.Methods
Students were asked to complete a survey ranking their attitudes towards nephrology and other specialties. This data was collated and analysed to show trends and allow comparison of the attitudes towards each specialty.Results
Students felt that along with geriatrics, their least favourite subject was nephrology. Students felt unconfident in diagnosing, managing and understanding chronic conditions more so than acute conditions. Nephrology was consistently amongst the least popular subject for all areas of diagnosis, management and pathophysiology. Renal anatomy was the only area of nephrology that students felt confident in. The less popular specialties of nephrology and geriatrics had the greatest room for improvement when directly instructed in specialty medical training.Conclusions
Nephrology remains a problematic and unpopular specialty for medical students, driving their unwillingness to consider it as a future career route. This study identifies areas of misconception amongst medical students toward the specialty and highlights areas for improvement in renal training for students.
SUBMITTER: Hull W
PROVIDER: S-EPMC9461189 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Sep
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Publications
Nephrophobia: a retrospective study of medical students' attitudes towards nephrology education.
Hull William W Jewell Emilia E Shabir Shazia S Borrows Richard R
BMC medical education 20220909 1
<h4>Background</h4>Nephrology is a subject which is challenged by a lack of applicants for trainee places. This study addresses the attitudes of medical students towards the subject and explores the causes of this lack of interest amongst potential specialty trainees.<h4>Methods</h4>Students were asked to complete a survey ranking their attitudes towards nephrology and other specialties. This data was collated and analysed to show trends and allow comparison of the attitudes towards each special ...[more]
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