Two random samples of medical students (50 each from the second and sixth years) were interviewed with the "Scale of Attitudes Towards Sources of Tension During Medical School", which assesses four factors: psychological aspects and adaptation to medical school; career choice and characteristics of medical school; manifestations of dysfunctional behavior; personal health; and lifestyle. The students also answered open questions on their experience during undergraduate training. According to the scale, 24.1% of the interviewees were potentially subject to developing adaptive crises. The material obtained from analysis of the open questions allowed constructing two discourses, corresponding to second and sixth-year students, respectively. Based on an analysis of the quantitative and qualitative data, we discuss themes related to the second year (teaching/learning process, faculty's teaching practice, and grading) and sixth year (organization of hands-on experience with patients, admissions process for residency programs, and ethical aspects of medical practice). We comment on preventive measures and interventions on the basis of the themes developed in the discussion.
Education medical undergraduate; Medical education; Medical psychology; Medicine students
