A General Assessment of Confidence and Life Orientation among Medical Students

Tahira Ashraf; Zunaira  Iqbal; Seema  Shafique; Asif  Hanif; Ashraf  Chaudhry; Iqra  Sabir

doi:10.54393/pbmj.v5i3.295

Authors

Tahira Ashraf University Institute of Radiological Sciences and Medical Imaging Technology, The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan
Zunaira Iqbal University Dental Hospital, The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan
Seema Shafique Operative Dentistry Department, The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan
Asif Hanif University Institute of Public Health, University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan
Ashraf Chaudhry Department of Community Medicine, CMH Medical and Dental College, Lahore, Pakistan
Iqra Sabir Research Consultant

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54393/pbmj.v5i3.295

Keywords:

Confidence, Life orientation, Mindset, Self-esteem, Self-efficacy, Optimism, Medical students, Teenagers

Abstract

To measure the level of confidence and components of life orientation among medical students and compare the confidence level with respect to gender and study program. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at CMH Medical and Dental College, Lahore, Pakistan. Non-probability convenience sampling was used to collect data from 385 students using a Standard questionnaire developed and available online by University of Stirling. Mann-Whitney U test and Kruskal Wallis test was used to compare confidence level of students with respect to gender and study programs. Results: There were 49.73% males and 50.27% females in this study and among them, 82.97% MBBS students, 10.81% of Nursing and 6.22% of the Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) students. The mean self esteem level in students was very low i.e. 15.8351±3.1178, mean optimism level, self efficacy and mindset level were all low i.e. 6.3568±2.28753, 2.8792±.56600, and 3.9061±1.25499 respectively that means students were generally under-confident. There was no median difference of any component of confidence level with respect to gender and study programs, except optimism which was slightly higher in males compared to females. Conclusion: The average level of four components of life orientation i.e. optimism, self esteem, self efficacy and mindset as well as average confidence level were all low among medical students irrespective of gender and study programs.

References

Vautier S, Raufaste E, Cariou M. Dimensionality of the Revised Life Orientation Test and the status of filler items. International Journal of Psychology. 2003;38(6):390-400.

https://doi.org/10.1080/00207590344000222

Tavani CM, Losh SC. Motivation, self-confidence, and expectations as predictors of the academic performances among our high school students. Child study journal. 2003;33(3):141-52.

Gardner-Medwin A. Confidence assessment in the teaching of basic science. ALT-J. 1995;3(1):80-5.

https://doi.org/10.3402/rlt.v3i1.9597

Betz NE, Wolfe JB. Measuring confidence for basic domains of vocational activity in high school students. Journal of Career Assessment. 2005;13(3):251-70.

https://doi.org/10.1177/1069072705274951

Baumeister RF, Tice DM, Hutton DG. Self‐presentational motivations and personality differences in self‐esteem. Journal of personality. 1989;57(3):547-79.

https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-6494.1989.tb02384.x

Erev I, Wallsten TS, Budescu DV. Simultaneous over-and underconfidence: The role of error in judgment processes. Psychological review. 1994;101(3):519.

https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-295X.101.3.519

Barnsley L, Lyon PM, Ralston SJ, Hibbert EJ, Cunningham I, Gordon FC, et al. Clinical skills in junior medical officers: a comparison of self‐reported confidence and observed competence. Medical education. 2004;38(4):358-67.

https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2923.2004.01773.x

Vivekananda‐Schmidt P, Lewis M, Hassell AB, Coady D, Walker D, Kay L, et al. Validation of MSAT: an instrument to measure medical students' self‐assessed confidence in musculoskeletal examination skills. Medical education. 2007;41(4):402-10.

https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2929.2007.02712.x

Barr J, Graffeo CS. Procedural experience and confidence among graduating medical students. Journal of surgical education. 2016;73(3):466-73.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsurg.2015.11.014

Hintsanen M, Alatupa S, Pullmann H, Hirstiö‐Snellman P, KELTIKANGAS‐JÄRVINEN L. Associations of self‐esteem and temperament traits to self‐and teacher‐reported social status among classmates. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology. 2010;51(6):488-94.

https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9450.2010.00820.x

Cecchini J, González C, Carmona Á, Arruza J, Escartí A, Balagué G. The influence of the physical education teacher on intrinsic motivation, self-confidence, anxiety, and pre-and post-competition mood states. European Journal of Sport Science. 2001;1(4):1-11.

https://doi.org/10.1080/17461390100071407

Dahlin ME, Runeson B. Burnout and psychiatric morbidity among medical students entering clinical training: a three year prospective questionnaire and interview-based study. BMC Medical education. 2007;7(1):6.

https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6920-7-6

Feather NT. Attribution of responsibility and valence of success and failure in relation to initial confidence and task performance. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 1969;13(2):129.

https://doi.org/10.1037/h0028071

Bambini D, Washburn J, Perkins R. Outcomes of clinical simulation for novice nursing students: Communication, confidence, clinical judgment. Nursing education perspectives. 2009;30(2):79-82.

Brannan JD, White A, Bezanson JL. Simulator effects on cognitive skills and confidence levels. Journal of Nursing Education. 2008;47(11):495-500.

https://doi.org/10.3928/01484834-20081101-01

Blanch DC, Hall JA, Roter DL, Frankel RM. Medical student gender and issues of confidence. Patient education and counseling. 2008;72(3):374-81.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2008.05.021

Morgan P, Cleave‐Hogg D. Comparison between medical students' experience, confidence and competence. Medical education. 2002;36(6):534-9.

https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2923.2002.01228.x

Freund Y, Duchateau F-X, Baker EC, Goulet H, Carreira S, Schmidt M, et al. Self-perception of knowledge and confidence in performing basic life support among medical students. European Journal of Emergency Medicine. 2013;20(3):193-6.

https://doi.org/10.1097/MEJ.0b013e328355fd59

Stewart RA, Hauge LS, Stewart RD, Rosen RL, Charnot-Katsikas A, Prinz RA. A CRASH course in procedural skills improves medical students' self-assessment of proficiency, confidence, and anxiety. The American journal of surgery. 2007;193(6):771-3.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjsurg.2007.01.019

Standage M, Gillison F. Students' motivational responses toward school physical education and their relationship to general self-esteem and health-related quality of life. Psychology of Sport and Exercise. 2007;8(5):704-21.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2006.12.004

Klayman J, Soll JB, González-Vallejo C, Barlas S. Overconfidence: It depends on how, what, and whom you ask. Organizational behavior and human decision processes. 1999;79(3):216-47.

https://doi.org/10.1006/obhd.1999.2847

Butt S, Phillips JG. Personality and self reported mobile phone use. Computers in Human Behavior. 2008;24(2):346-60.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2007.01.019

Yang Y-S, Yen J-Y, Ko C-H, Cheng C-P, Yen C-F. The association between problematic cellular phone use and risky behaviors and low self-esteem among Taiwanese adolescents. BMC public health. 2010;10(1):217.

https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-10-217

Dahlin M, Joneborg N, Runeson B. Performance-based self-esteem and burnout in a cross-sectional study of medical students. Medical Teacher. 2007;29(1):43-8.

https://doi.org/10.1080/01421590601175309

Nomura K, Yano E, Fukui T. Gender differences in clinical confidence: a nationwide survey of resident physicians in Japan. Academic Medicine. 2010;85(4):647-53.

https://doi.org/10.1097/ACM.0b013e3181d2a796