M. Thommen et al., CONCEPTS OF HEALTH AND ILLNESS IN ENTERING MEDICAL-STUDENTS - FIRST PART OF A PROSPECTIVE-STUDY, Sozial- und Praventivmedizin, 41(2), 1996, pp. 90-97
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.