Young Medical Professionals Research Articles

The Role of Young Doctors' Health Parliament as an effective policy tool in Tackling NCDs: An innovative approach

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are increasingly recognized as a severe public health concern threatening the human race, development, and quality of life. In the last three decades, Years of healthy life lost due to disability (YLD) has witnessed a significant shift from Communicable diseases towards NCDs and injuries (1). Globally, the economic burden of NCDs is projected to rise to over 13 trillion dollars by the year 2030, and every 10% hike in NCDs is expected to cause a 0.5% decline in global economic growth(2). The poor and disadvantaged population is disproportionately affected by NCDs, contributing to increased health disparities within and between nations (3). In low- and middle-income countries like India, NCDs are expected to diminish their GDP by 1% to 5% annually(3). The novel concept of the Young Doctors' Health Parliament (YDHP) is uniquely positioned to leverage the fresh perspectives and energetic engagement of young medical professionals who are at the forefront of encountering and managing NCDs. This article explores how the Young Doctors' Health Parliament serves as a pivotal mechanism for young doctors to influence health policy, thereby playing a crucial role in mitigating the NCD burden that disproportionately affects their peers and younger generations.

Mental Health Challenges Faced by Young Medical Professionals in Iran: A Closer Look at the Rising Suicide Rates

Mental Health Challenges Faced by Young Medical Professionals in Iran: A Closer Look at the Rising Suicide Rates

Factors Driving the Emigration Intentions of Young Tunisian Medical Professionals

IntroductionEmigration has a substantial impact on Tunisia’s healthcare sector. Graduates, including medical students at different educational levels, as well as general practitioners and specialists, often choose to emigrate. Some do so to pursue further studies abroad, while others seek careers and settlement primarily in Europe. This phenomenon exerts a significant influence on the quality of healthcare systems in their home countries.ObjectivesTo evaluate the inclination to emigrate among medical residents employed in Tunisian healthcare institutions and to identify the factors associated with this intention.MethodsThis is a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted among medical residents undergoing their training in various healthcare facilities in Tunisia. The study employed an online questionnaire to assess the degree of satisfaction with various aspects of their professional life and the socio-economic situation in the country, as well as their intention to emigrate. Satisfaction levels were measured using a 4-point Likert scale, ranging from “very dissatisfied” to “very satisfied”.ResultsA total of 50 physicians participated in the survey. Among them, 72% were female, 80% were single, with an average age of 27.72 years at the time of the study. Regarding their professional status, 84% worked in university hospitals, 16% specialized in surgery, 40% specialized in medicine, and 44% were family physicians. The majority were students from the Faculty of Medicine in Sfax (56%), with 30% in Monastir, 8% in Tunis, and 6% in Sousse. The study found that 68% of medical residents expressed an intention to emigrate. Among the participants, 74% were dissatisfied with their working conditions, and 68% were dissatisfied with workplace safety. Additionally, 84% were dissatisfied with their salaries, 40% with their workload, 54% with supervision, and the quality of training provided in their hospitals. The political situation in the country and social security were considered unsatisfactory by 92% and 90% of the participants, respectively. Among the potential reasons studied to explain this emigration phenomenon, working conditions were a factor in 54% of cases, salary in 56%, training in 36%, and quality of life in 56%.ConclusionsThe emigration of young Tunisian medical professionals is driven by a range of factors, including working conditions, salaries, training opportunities, and quality of life. To counteract this phenomenon, it is crucial to enhance these aspects in order to retain these talented individuals in the country and thereby bolster the Tunisian healthcare system.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

Training of young medical professionals: implementation of modern training concepts, taking into account the changed framework conditions for training—a pilot project for operational subjects

IntroductionFor years, generations of medical students have complained that practice-oriented learning is neglected in medical studies. Further training assistants also complain about limited opportunities to learn subject-specific practical activities.Material and techniquesWe are presenting a pilot project at the University Women’s Hospital in Homburg, in which medical students complete an endoscopic hands-on course as part of the block internship gynaecology and obstetrics. During the course the students perform classic skills training and hand–eye coordination exercises and learn the first steps in endoscopic suturing (suture and rows of knots). The training concepts used can be implemented on simple boxing trainers and can therefore also be reproduced in clinics or in a private setting.OutcomeAltogether, 73 medical students did participate in the laparoscopy course. We were able to prove that the knotting time for a simple knot can be reduced from an average of 247 s to 40 s (80%) after completing our training programme. Based on the evaluation sheet that the students filled out after the course, we found a very-high acceptance for surgical simulation training within the student cohort.DiscussionPractical surgical exercises can complement the curriculum well and, as we can show with our work, are rated very positively by the students. For students in higher semesters, such practical courses can also provide an insight into the respective subject area and thus counteract the lack of skilled workers in surgical subjects. The practical year should not be the first contact with these practical courses, as at this timepoint a certain favoured subject has often already being chosen by the students.

Magnetic Nanoparticles: Synthesis, Characterization, and Their Use in Biomedical Field

In recent years, the use of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) in biomedical applications has gained more and more attention. Their unusual properties make them ideal candidates for the advancement of diagnosis, therapy, and imaging applications. This review addresses the use of MNPs in the field of biomedicine encompassing their synthesis, biofunctionalization, and unique physicochemical properties that make them ideal candidates for such applications. The synthesis of magnetic nanoparticles involves a range of techniques that allow for control over particle size, shape, and surface modifications. The most commonly used synthesis techniques that play a crucial role in tailoring the magnetic properties of nanoparticles are summarized in this review. Nevertheless, the main characterization techniques that can be employed after a successful synthesis procedure are also included together with a short description of their biomedical applications. As the field of magnetic nanoparticles in biomedical applications is rapidly evolving, this review aims to serve as a valuable resource, especially for young researchers and medical professionals, offering basic but very useful insights into recent advancements and future prospects in this highly interdisciplinary research topic.

Barriers to Choosing Pediatrics as a Specialty: Insights From a Cross-Sectional Analysis.

The pediatric field in South Korea is experiencing a significant workforce crisis due to a sharp decline in pediatricians, exacerbated by a decrease in pediatric residents and a series of distressing incidents in pediatric healthcare institutions. No prior studies have explored the waning interest in pediatrics among South Korea's medical students and interns, which our research seeks to address during a pediatric workforce decline. This study aimed to investigate the declining interest in pediatrics among medical students and interns in South Korea amidst decreasing birth rates. We conducted a comprehensive survey to identify the factors deterring young medical professionals from pursuing a career in pediatrics. In this cross-sectional study, in December 2023 we surveyed medical students and interns at Jeonbuk National University and Hospital using a 40-item electronically distributed questionnaire tailored to assess the factors influencing specialty choice, focusing on pediatrics. The participants were divided into the pre-clinical and clinical groups, allowing for analysis across educational stages. The survey covered demographics, perceptions of pediatrics, attitudes toward medical errors, and awareness of critical issues; it included a range of question types to ensure detailed and nuanced data collection. Our findings revealed a clear decrease in interest in pediatrics as medical students progressed through their education, with 86.69% displaying negative views. Although a sense of mission and emotional satisfaction from patient interactions were highlighted as positive influences, they were significantly countered by worries related to declining pediatric populations, legal challenges, and interactions with patient guardians. Additionally, 95.84% of the participants recognized the critical role of vital pediatric departments; however, litigation risks and psychological burdens substantially affected their willingness to specialize in these areas. The analysis also showed an increasing awareness of pediatric incidents as students advanced through their education; however, this did not directly correlate with their choice of specialty (P = 0.090). The results emphasize the necessity for targeted interventions to alleviate concerns and improve the attractiveness of pediatrics. These efforts are essential to counteract the declining interest and ensure a sustainable pediatric workforce for the future.

Influenza Vaccination of Romanian Medical Students and Resident Physicians-A Matter of Accessibility.

In Romania, influenza vaccination of healthcare professionals is recommended, but not mandatory. This study aims to investigate the attitudes and behaviors of medical students and resident physicians-the youngest healthcare professionals-towards influenza immunization, focusing on the barriers and facilitators, as well as on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. An anonymous online survey was conducted during the 2021/2022 influenza season, with responses from332 medical students and resident physicians. The majority (73.5%) were not vaccinated against influenza (68% of the students, 52.3% of the residents), although they were vaccinated against COVID-19 (94% students, 94.8% resident physicians) and believed that the pandemic positively influenced their attitude towards influenza vaccination. Vaccine accessibility (p < 0.001) and the necessity to pay for vaccination (p < 0.001) were identified as barriers in both groups, while lack of recommendation from a medical professional/teacher was significant only for students (p < 0.001). Forgetfulness and lack of prioritizations were the most cited reasons for not being vaccinated. These barriers could be diminished through proactive recommendation and simplification of the vaccination process, with accessible vaccination centers and implementation of vaccine reimbursement policies. Improved vaccination rates in young medical professionals are of the utmost importance both in their professional settings and as a model for the general population.

Leadership from the perspective of next generation ophthalmologists

Managers in the healthcare system play acritical role in ensuring high quality patient care, optimization of resources, management of complex situations, creation of apositive work environment and promotion of continuous progress. They set clear goals, support interdisciplinary collaboration, ensure patient safety and quality care, and assist in the development of future leaders. To accomplish these multiple tasks, important qualities such as integrity, communication skills, self-awareness, ability to learn, influence, empathy, courage, respect, ability to delegate and gratitude are essential. We conducted asurvey among the followers and members of the Young-DOG to find out their desired characteristics of leaders. In this survey modern aspects of leadership styles such as communication, loyalty, support, reliability and trust were particularly important to young medical professionals. Classical attributes such as expertise and assertiveness were rated as somewhat less significant. This finding underlines the importance of leadership programs such as the Leadership Academy of the German Society of Ophthalmology (DOG) or the European Leadership Development Program of the European Society of Ophthalmology (SOE). The latter is briefly presented in an excursus.

Barriers to Research Perceived by Medical Students of Private Medical College, Lahore- Pakistan

Aim: To identify the major barriers to conducting research perceived by medical students and their association with various years of study and gender. Methodology: This was an analytical cross-sectional study conducted from 9th March 2021 to 6th June 2021. It was conducted among the medical students of all years studying in Combined Military Hospital Lahore Medical College (CMHLMC) &amp; Institute of Dentistry (IOD). Non- probability convenient sampling technique was used. The questionnaire was self-administered and data was analyzed by using SPSS version 20.0.Descriptive statistics of qualitative variables were calculated as frequencies and percentage. Chi-square test of significance was used to see impact of gender and year of study on barriers perceived. P value&lt;0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: There was significant difference in barriers perceived by male and female students (p &lt;0.05). The most prevalent barrier in males was extracurricular activities (p=0.001) while major barrier in females was fatigue (p=0.006). Prevalence of barriers was found to be greater among students of 2nd year MBBS (39.3%) and 4th year MBBS (31.3%).The most significant barrier among 2ndyear MBBS was fatigue (p=0.006) while in 4th year MBBS the common barriers perceived were lack of previous exposure (p=0.003), uncooperative colleagues (p=0.003) and finding a mentor (p=0.018). Practical implications: By using this research as a template we can identify ways in which our education system can probe about flaws in promotion and execution of research among students and how to rectify these so that more students can be urged to go forth in medical field as competent researchers so to advance current methods of treatment and bring forth new queries .Pakistan being a third world country is in dire need of young medical professionals who can bring about a new perspective in field of medicine and we can only do so by facilitating them . This article will give an insight in the current difficulties faced by students whether from personal or administrative point of view which is proving to hinder their progress. Conclusion: The results of study showed that major barriers perceived by medical students were curriculum overload, finding a mentor, lack of previous exposure to research. There was significant difference in barriers perceived by various classes and males and females. Keywords: Barriers, medical students, research, gender, medical research, Pakistan, curriculum

Burnout among Accident and Emergency Physicians in Eastern Cape South Africa

Burnout is common among professionals and not exclusively among doctors. This article should be considered as a cautionary reference for Accident and Emergency Doctors, Senior Managers and Heads of Department, not to overuse young medical professionals to an extent that they fall sick and even die.

Employment of a young medical specialist: levels of manifestation of the problem

The article discusses the topic of employment of medical university graduates and young medical professionals. Based on the data of expert focus groups (2016) with teachers and graduates of medical universities and heads of pharmaceutical companies, as well as narrative interviews with young medical professionals (2021), the authors identify a number of problems that arise during the first employment and impede successful professional socialisation of yesterday's graduates in the industry labour market.&#x0D; The authors note that at present, despite the interest in cooperation between the main actors of interaction in the industry labour market of medical specialists, the key problems remain as follows: the inconsistency in the implementation of the personnel requirements of the industry, the lag gap between the content of educational university programmes and the current requirements of employers, as well as the weak orientation of applicants in employment opportunities by profession. At the same time, the difficulties of finding a job for a graduate of a medical university are mainly associated with a lack of practical skills among young specialists, that brings forward the need for cooperation between universities and employers.&#x0D; Important factors contributing to increasing the competitiveness of graduates of medical universities in the labour market are the active work of the university to adapt students to the profession (educational work, the creation and maintenance of the &amp;amp;quot;dialogue platform&amp;amp;quot; for applicants-graduates and employers, measures to increase the motivation for building a professional career and the readiness of young people to practical work in the specialty, etc.), providing young specialists with the opportunity to receive additional non-medical education - economic, managerial, legal, sociological, psychological and other. In addition, experts associate the high competitiveness (as an indicator of professional socialisation) of university graduates with the introduction of innovative practices for individual training of students based on their personal characteristics, inclinations and talents.&#x0D; For a deeper understanding of the negative factors that complicate employment, the specific manifestation of these problems is considered at three levels - the labour market as a whole, the “university-employer” system, and personal. A comparative analysis of the results of two measurements carried out with an interval of five years allowed to draw a conclusion about the sustainable nature of the identified problems, in fact, their chronicity, and outline possible ways and means to overcome the current situation.

Wie wichtig ist heute noch eine akademische Karriere in der Medizin? Eine Befragung von Medizinstudierenden in Deutschland: Ergebnisse des Studienarms XIII der KARiMED-Studie

ObjectiveAcademic careers still play a significant role in medicine. Although the doctorate remains interesting for many students, there are no data available from medical students, for example, with regard to the interest in habilitation. In parallel, a good work-life/family balance is a key career element for young medical professionals. The aim was to obtain an up-to-date opinion on the academic career of medical students. MethodologyUsing an online survey, medical students of all semesters in Germany were questioned on the topics of academic career, mentoring, and work-life balance from October 2017 to December 2018. For this purpose, the medical students were invited by e-mail to participate and answer an anonymized online questionnaire. ResultsA total of 1,775 participants from all 38 German medical faculties (68.3% female; age 23.3 ± 4.0 years) were included. Almost half of the participants could envision working in a branch office after graduation. While a professional career appeared important to a clear majority (70.8%), leisure time was rated as even more important (84.3%), and work-life balance clearly prioritized personal life (41.2%) over career (9.6%). Acquiring a title was rated as important to one's career by 53.6%. However, while the acquisition of a doctorate was still an option for 88.0% of the respondents, the situation is significantly different for academic titles following a successful habilitation. Although the significance of a habilitation is rated as high to very high (66.1%), the titles of assistant professor (“yes”: 13.0%), associate professor (6.0%) or university professor (7.0%) are much less likely to be considered by medical students and are therefore rated as “maybe” and “no”. Nevertheless, almost 60% wished for better information and advice in their future field of work. ConclusionCareers in medicine are undergoing a transformation where better compatibility of leisure/family and work is no longer the sole focus. On the contrary, work-life blending is sought, as a connection between work and life. Changes are therefore necessary for professional and especially academic careers in order to make working in science and research attractive again.

Academic Careers in Medicine: a Sex-Related Analysis of Career Goals

For female and male physicians of the clinical-academic mid-level staff, working conditions as well as the attitude towards profession and career play a decisive role. For years, there has been an increasing proportion of women in medicine. Despite this increase, a significant sex incongruence is still evident, especially in academic medicine. The aim of this work was to analyze current opinions of female and male physicians on sex-related aspects for career. By means of an online survey, medical mid-level staff from university and peripheral hospitals were asked about professional biographical as well as career-related topics and the data analyzed in terms of the sexes. Compared to their male counterparts, female physicians had lower career goals and mainly aimed to qualify as senior physicians. Women planned to have families and raise children earlier in their careers. Men were more likely to have their professional careers in mind during the same time period. Although only just under 47% of respondents considered an academic career to be worthwhile, 65% continued to rate the acquisition of an academic title highly. When evaluating equal treatment by superiors, female physicians tended to feel disadvantaged in their professional careers compared to male physicians. Thus, physicians rated the treatment by their respective superiors as characterized by the quality of the work (44% for both genders of superiors) or dependent on sympathy (female superiors 30%; male superiors 24%). Female physicians, however, saw a preference for male colleagues in 37% of male superiors. Despite a significantly larger proportion of women in medicine for decades, there is still an incongruence in sexes in favor of men in management positions. The professional and private goals of women and men differ significantly depending on their age decade. The academic career per se is increasingly losing importance, although the acquisition of academic degrees still seems to be desirable. Therefore, to improve the future of academic medicine, significant structural changes are needed to enable projectable career paths (e. g., tenure track, assistant professorship, young medical professionals model) for mid-level academic staff.

Sudden Death among Medical Professionals: How to Reverse this Trend?

During the past few years, the sudden death of young medical professionals in India shocked the entire medical fraternity. Recently, the sudden demise of several young doctors due to massive myocardial infarction came as shocking sad news for medical colleagues. Similarly, few young, highly skilled and talented doctors succumbed before age of 45 years. Sudden early deaths have frequently been reported among medical professionals during the past few years. This indicates an alarming trend of the sudden death of doctors and is also closely associated with stress/burnout, a sedentary lifestyle, long working hours, and socio-economic factors.

Best practices to support inflammatory bowel disease patients in higher education and the workplace: A clinician’s guide

The rising prevalence of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, among adolescents and young adults illuminates the growing need for psychosocial and structural support for these patients as they navigate both higher education and entering the workforce. In a roundtable discussion hosted by the Crohn’s and Colitis Young Adults Network (CCYAN), medical professionals (physicians, nurses, psychologists, trainees/medical students) and young adult patients with IBD came together to identify best practices for leveraging existing resources to support patients in higher education and their early careers. The discussion explored the topics of ableism and existing barriers in higher education and the workplace, including accommodation processes and the significance of proactive planning and collaboration between patients and their pediatric or adult care providers; the crucial role of establishing a therapeutic alliance; highlighting the importance of adopting a "whole person" care approach and normalizing discussions about the psychosocial facets of IBD; and finally, addressing the challenges associated with disease disclosure to empower patients and further build their self-efficacy.

Sudden &amp; Premature Death among Doctors: How to Save the Saviours?

During the past few years, the sudden and premature death of young medical professionals in India shocked the entire medical fraternity. One of the most important reasons is overwork, stress, lack of sound sleep, lack of physical activity, and lack of regular health checkups. Young and middle-aged doctors are in a critical period of their family and professional career development. Not only do they hope to make breakthroughs in clinical services as well as academic research, but they also face pressure from patients and their families. The escalation of contradictions between doctors and patients has also become an increasing mental burden in the practice of many medical professionals. The health of the entire nation depends on doctors and to achieve that goal, first, medical professionals need to be healthy. As they say in an airplane safety briefing: we must first ensure to put on our own oxygen masks, before we help others. The authors suggest that each and every doctor should take responsibility for his/her own health. Medical professionals/ophthalmologists should regularly perform aerobic exercise or connect with families and friends for support, instead of excessive smoking and drinking. Besides, regular medical checkup (blood pressure, blood sugar, ECG, Echocardiography, etc) is an effective approach to detecting and decreasing the risk of some potential diseases such as diabetes, coronary artery disease, hypertension, and stroke. Government, non-government organizations, medical/ophthalmic societies, and media should help to improve the working environment and re-establish doctor-patient trust, which may further decrease the sense of “stress/burnout” for doctors. A change of lifestyle and healthy work-life balance-adding yoga, exercise, and meditation to reduce stress, maintain quality eating, and maintain body weight can save many young doctor/ophthalmologist lives.

The COVID-19 Pandemic's Effect on Medical Professionals' Occupational and Personal Lives

Burnout is common among all medical professionals. The rate of burnout prior to 2020 was relatively stable (Hasan,2020). The onset of the pandemic was predicted to greatly increase burnout among medical professionals,particularly those on the frontline. The aim of this study was to determine how medical professionals have beenaffected by the pandemic, in addition to occupational changes due to their level of job satisfaction. Clough et. Al(2019) provided a template for survey questions, as well as a means for comparing post-pandemic scores to theirpre-pandemic scores. We use quantitative data from the Stigma of Occupational Stress Scale for Doctors (SOSS-D)to evaluate stigma towards stress and burnout, in addition to qualitative interviews to have a better understanding ofhow they were overall affected by the pandemic. Contradicting the initial hypothesis, it was found that medicalprofessionals have a decreased risk of burnout after the pandemic, yet they experience more discrimination at theworkplace than from society itself. In addition to this, more young medical professionals are considering switchingprofessions due to the pandemic effects than those who have more experience in their field. The most commonreason was due to their concerns for the safety of family members.

Prevalence of Symptoms of Depression, Anxiety, and Stress among Undergraduate Dental Students in Malaysia

The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress among dental students and its association with factors such as gender, year of study, phase of the course, and ethnicity. A questionnaire-based cross-sectional study was conducted among medical students in a medical institute in Malaysia. Prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress was assessed by Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21). A total of 351 students took part in the study with a mean age of 22.38 (+1.69) years. The overall prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress with varying severity among the study population was 60.4, 75.2, and 50.4%, respectively. The prevalence of symptoms of depression among the study population appears to be independent of gender, ethnicity, and academic year of study. Our results show that stress and anxiety may be influenced by gender with more prevalence in females. Early detection of symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress is of great importance to take timely remedial action to keep the mental well-being of individuals. Maintaining the mental health of young medical professionals is a need of society in the present world. Further studies are suggested to recognize other factors associated with depression, anxiety, and stress among dental students. Considering the students who experience depression, anxiety, or stress during undergraduate schooling, appropriate measures shall be taken to ensure effective learning. Students who have shown higher scores shall be advised for further follow-up and treatment strategies or appropriate counseling programs.

Reading habits of medical practitioners: Young doctors in Pakistan, a case study

ObjectiveThis study attempted to investigate the reading preferences and habits among young Pakistani medical doctors. The reading time, preferred source of information, preferred medical journals, and ways of reading medical journals were explored. MethodsA survey approach was used for data collection. The study participants were young medical professionals in Pakistan. An online survey was sent to more than 300 individuals through various physicians and their professional groups/bodies. A total of 155 responded to the questionnaire, and 128 of the questionnaires were considered worthy of data analysis. ResultsAmong respondents, 40% read printed journals, 49% read online journals, 60% read case reports, and 55% read newspapers for 1–5 h per week. Continuing medical education was the preferred source of information, and the Pakistan Journal of Cardiology & Thoracic Surgery was the preferred medical journal. Reading the abstract and the conclusion was the preferred way of reading journal articles. ConclusionYoung physicians are enthusiastic in participating in research activities and spending time gaining updated information. Physicians read articles methodically. Online sources of information are preferred over printed sources.

An Outline on Awareness and Knowledge of Healthcare Ethics and Medico-legal Aspects among Budding Doctors in a Tertiary Care Hospital

Introduction: Numerous litigations have been filed against doctors in the recent past by thepatients on account of medical negligence, unethical behaviour and unethical association withallied healthcare industries.Objectives: This study aims to study the awareness of healthcare ethics among budding doctors(CRRIs and Post graduate students) in a tertiary care hospital.Materials and Method: A descriptive cross sectional study was conducted among 100 youngdoctors working in a tertiary care hospital in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu using a self-structuredquestionnaire in September 2018 and the results were tabulated.Results: Of the 100 doctors, 50 were CRRIs and 50 were post graduates with 55.1% of the doctorsable to answer accurately for the questions on knowledge of medicolegal aspects.Conclusions: Our study concludes that the interns and post graduates are aware of the ethicalaspects and medicolegal issues in their practice but lacked the finer details in them. Howeverdefinite steps are needed to improve the overall knowledge and awareness on healthcare ethics andits implications in young medical professionals.