A Pilot Study of Compassion Based Emotion Management Program for the Medical Students in Kerala

Abstract

Medicine is considered as a respectable and satisfying career (American Medical Student Association, 2001). General Medical Council (2009) report says that every future doctor needs to be guided by personal values and principles to help the people who approach him/her for treatment especially that medical profession expects fitness not only in updating the knowledge but also in modeling personal life even outside the duty time. Research study done in Asia showed that there is 42.5% possibility of stress among medical students. However, ratio varies in a big manner among various particular countries like Saudi Arabia at 57%, Thailand at 61.4%, Pakistan at 85% and India at 73 % (Brahmbhatt et al., 2013). Another study done among the medical students found that the stress experienced during the training period reduces the empathy level of student (Thomas et al., 2007) which affects the efficiency of the profession negatively. Studies done in Malaysia and Singapore affirmed the findings of previous studies about the stress of medical students and the possibilities to have the emotional disorders (Mosley et al., 1994; Ko etal., 1999; Sidiketal., 2003). Examination is one of the main reasons for the stress (Abraham et al., 2009). A study done in India proved the increased probability of stress in Indian medical institutions and it negatively affects the mental wellbeing of the medical students (Nandi et al., 2012). Research study done by Kittu and Patil (2013) reported high level of stress among medical students which leads them to depression. In the same study, it suggested the urgency of intervention programs to manage the stress of the medical students during their training period. The study conducted the comparison of the stress and depression of medical students and non-medical students who showed higher level of stress and depression among medical students than non-medical students in the same age group (Biro et al., 2010).Mental health is the important factor in the life of the medical students which needs to be enhanced by improving the emotional intelligence through the intervention programs (Lolaty et al., 2014). Results from previous study show that first year medical students experience high level of stress and this undermines their self-efficacy. It is an urgent issue that needs to be addressed and found solutions in order for the medical students and young doctors to have better lives personally and professionally (Kumar et al., 2013). Research done by Salami (2010) revealed that emotional intelligence would predict the medical students' behaviors and attitudes because if they could become more aware about the emotion of self, they would be better equipped to understand and manage the emotions of others rightly and positively. Furthermore, the study found that there is a significant relationship between emotional intelligence and the level and quality ofperformance of medical students (Doherty et al., 2013). Better understanding of one's own emotions and of others will help to control emotions for the better performance in profession especially in approaching and maintaining empathy in relationship with the patients (Shetty et al., 2013).Emotional intelligence is a capacity of a person to understand and manage the emotions of oneself and others, and a guide to choose the right information for better thinking and actions (Salovey & Mayer, 1990; Mayer, Caruso, & Salovey, 2000). Goleman (1995) focused on the ability of the emotional intelligence to motivate a person during the time of frustration or difficulties by thinking positively with hope.The study of Gupta and Kumar (2010) suggested the need of intervention programs to enhance the emotional intelligence of the medical students because it is found to be powerful than the intelligence quotient in health care service. One of the studies done in Japan found that there is a need of emotional awareness training programs in the early years of training for the medical students to help them to increase their emotional intelligence (Abe et al. …