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Neurophobia Inception: A Study of Trainees' Perceptions of Neurology Education

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 October 2014

Tadeu A. Fantaneanu ,
Katherine Moreau ,
Kaylee Eady ,
Chantalle Clarkin ,
Christine DeMeulemeester ,
Heather Maclean  and
Asif Doja
Tadeu A. Fantaneanu
Affiliation:
Department of Medicine, Division of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa
Katherine Moreau
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Kaylee Eady
Affiliation:
Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Chantalle Clarkin
Affiliation:
Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Christine DeMeulemeester
Affiliation:
Department of Medicine, Division of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa
Heather Maclean
Affiliation:
Department of Medicine, Division of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa
Asif Doja*
Affiliation:
Department of Medicine, Division of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa
*
Division of Neurology, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, 401 Smyth Road, Ottawa, Ontario, K1H 8L1, Canada. Email: adoja@cheo.on.ca.
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Abstract

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Objectives:

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”.

Methods:

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.

Results:

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.

Conclusions:

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.

Type
Original Article
Information
Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences , Volume 41 , Issue 4 , July 2014 , pp. 421 - 429
Copyright
Copyright © The Canadian Journal of Neurological 2014

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