Caring for medical students as patients: Access to services and care-seeking practices of 1,027 students at nine medical schools

Purpose. The personal health care of medical students is an important but n eglected issue in medical education, Preliminary work suggests that medical student-patients experience special barriers to health care services and r eport problematic care-seeking practices that merit further inquiry. Method. A self-report questionnaire was piloted, revised, and distributed t o students at nine medical schools in 1996-97, The survey included question s regarding access to health services, care-seeking practices, and demograp hic information. Results. A total of 1,027 students participated (52% response rate). Ninety percent reported needing care for various health concerns, Fifty-seven per cent did not seek care at times, in Dart clue to training demands, and 48% had encountered difficulties in obtaining care, A majority had received tre atment at their training institutions, and students commonly pursued inform al or "curbside" care from medical colleagues. Almost all participants (96% ) were insured. Differences in responses were associated with level of trai ning, gender, and medical school. Conclusion. Medical schools shoulder the responsibility nor only of educati ng but also of providing health services for their students. Students encou nter barriers to care and engage in problematic care-seeking practices. Gre ater attention to issues surrounding medical student health may benefit stu dents and their future patients.