Fantaneanu Tadeu A, Moreau Katherine, Eady Kaylee, Clarkin Chantalle, DeMeulemeester Christine, Maclean Heather, Doja Asif
Can J Neurol Sci. 2014 Jul;41(4):421-9. doi: 10.1017/s0317167100018436.
We wanted to examine the extent to which "neurophobia" exists among medical students and determine if students' perceptions of neurology differ by year of study while exploring the factors that contribute to the development of "neurophobia".
We used a two-phase, sequential, mixed-methods explanatory design in this single centre study. Phase 1 involved the collection and analysis of a questionnaire administered to students in the first three years of medical school. Phase 2 involved focus groups of a subgroup of students who demonstrated evidence of neurophobia in Phase 1.
In total, 187 (39 %) undergraduate medical trainees responded to the questionnaire (response rates of 37%, 44% and 19% for first-, second- and third-year students, respectively). 24% of respondents indicated that they were afraid of clinical neurology and 32% were afraid of the academic neurosciences. Additionally, 46% of respondents thought that clinical neurology is one of the most difficult disciplines in medicine. Phase 2 findings revealed that many students reported negative preconceptions about neurology and commented on neurology's difficulty. Some experienced changes in these conceptions following their neurology block. Past clinical, educational, and personal experiences in neurology impacted their comfort level.
This study shows that the level of comfort towards clinical neurology increases following students' participation in second-year neurology blocks, but that third-year students continue to show signs of neurophobia with lower comfort levels. It provides insight into why neurophobia exists amongst medical students and sheds light on pre-existing and emerging factors contributing to this sense of neurophobia.
我们想要探究医学生中“神经恐惧症”的存在程度，确定学生对神经病学的认知是否因学习年份而异，同时探究导致“神经恐惧症”形成的因素。
在这项单中心研究中，我们采用了两阶段、序贯、混合方法的解释性设计。第一阶段涉及收集和分析对医学院前三年学生进行的问卷调查。第二阶段涉及对在第一阶段表现出神经恐惧症证据的学生亚组进行焦点小组访谈。
共有187名（39%）本科医学实习生回复了问卷（一年级、二年级和三年级学生的回复率分别为37%、44%和19%）。24%的受访者表示他们害怕临床神经病学，32%的受访者害怕神经科学学术内容。此外，46%的受访者认为临床神经病学是医学中最难的学科之一。第二阶段的研究结果显示，许多学生报告了对神经病学的负面先入之见，并评论了神经病学的难度。一些学生在完成神经病学课程模块后，这些观念发生了变化。过去在神经病学方面的临床、教育和个人经历影响了他们的舒适度。
本研究表明，学生参与二年级神经病学课程模块后，对临床神经病学的舒适度有所提高，但三年级学生仍表现出神经恐惧症的迹象，舒适度较低。该研究深入了解了医学生中存在神经恐惧症的原因，并揭示了导致这种神经恐惧症的既有因素和新出现的因素。
