CONCEPTS OF HEALTH AND ILLNESS IN ENTERING MEDICAL-STUDENTS - FIRST PART OF A PROSPECTIVE-STUDY

The objective of this prospective study is to assess curriculum-relate d factors which might influence both concepts of health and illness an d health behaviour. A representative sample of 546 freshmen enrolled a l the University of Berne, entering medical students and a control gro up of freshmen in other faculties, were surveyed on their subjective c oncepts of illness and health. The questionnaire described as ''Health and illness Concept Scales'' (HICS) was mailed out shortly before the beginning of school, and was returned by 70%. The prospective medical students surveyed were not found to have a typically medical view of health and illness before entering professional training contrary to t he hypothesis of ''anticipatory socialisation''. Their general concept of illness and health was found to be distinctly naturalistic rather than psychosocial in nature. While psychosocial factors were considere d to be rather irrelevant by both cohort of students, individual healt h behaviour and the ability to recognize warning signs of impending ha zard to one's health were given high priority.