ISOLATION OF MEDICAL STUDENTS: COMMUNICATION BARRIER AND ITS EFFECT ON CAREER
Abstract
Background: Communication barriers affect student-student interaction and student-patientinteraction. This study is aimed at exploring the social, cultural and academic spheres where medical
students feel getting isolated. Method: Questionnaire based cross-sectional survey was undertaken at
Ayub Medical College, Abbottabad in the month of July, 2013. Cluster sampling technique was
employed. Results: Linguistic problems in the college greatly affected medical students. Female
medical student are comparatively more affected. These problems were less common in 1st year and
most common in 3rd year where clinical classes are started. There are distinct gender based problems in
communicating among male and female student with as many as 37.2% reported feeling difficulty in
communicating with students of opposite gender. However this difficulty in communication gradually
faded on proceeding from 1st year towards final year. About frank interaction with opposite gender,
65.9% students felt that society had negative impact upon it. While communicating with patients of
opposite gender, almost a quarter of students (27.3%) reported facing difficulties, 56.9% students
reported to have abject apathy towards the colleagues of opposite gender. Conclusion: Linguistic
issues, gender discrimination, negative impact of society and lack of concern for fellow colleagues is
affecting student-student interaction and student-patient interaction. There is need to create student
friendly environment.
Keywords: Linguistic issues, gender discrimination, medical students
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