Emotional challenges of medical students generate feelings of uncertainty

Abstract

Health care students face many situations during their education that might be emotionally challenging. Students are confronted with illness, suffering, death, patient treatment dilemmas, and witnessing unprofessional behaviour on the part of health care professionals. Few studies have focused on what these experiences lead to in relation to the process of becoming a professional. The purpose of the study was to explore medical students’ main concerns relating to emotionally challenging situations during their medical education.