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Medical student gender and issues of confidence.
- Source :
-
Patient Education & Counseling . Sep2008, Vol. 72 Issue 3, p374-381. 8p. - Publication Year :
- 2008
-
Abstract
- OBJECTIVE: To review the literature on gender differences and issues of self-confidence in medical students and to present original research on observers' perceptions of medical student confidence. METHODS: One hundred forty-one 3rd year medical students at Indiana University School of Medicine were videotaped during their objective structured clinical examination (OSCE). Trained coders rated how confident the student appeared and coded a variety of nonverbal behaviors at the beginning, middle, and end of the interaction. Analysis focused on gender differences in coders' ratings of perceived confidence. RESULTS: Female medical students were viewed as significantly less confident than male medical students (F(1,133)=4.45, p<0.05), especially at the beginning of the interaction. CONCLUSION: Past research indicates that despite performing equally to their male peers, female medical students consistently report decreased self-confidence and increased anxiety, particularly over issues related to their competence. In a standardized patient interaction examination situation, female medical students also appeared significantly less confident than male medical students to independent observers. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Medical educators should focus on issues of female students' confidence, increasing faculty sensitivity, and publicly recognizing and discussing perceptions of confidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 07383991
- Volume :
- 72
- Issue :
- 3
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Patient Education & Counseling
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 105554068
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2008.05.021