Reality of Medical Training

Let us ask some questions to ourselves, what is the reality of Medical Education? Do we realise about this? Do we know what is the purpose of Medical Education? The purpose of Medical Education is to produce academically competent, skillful and professional doctors to serve the people. The medical school curriculum has been designed to achieve and accomplish these visions. However, some aspects of training may cause unwanted negative impacts on medical students' physical, emotional and mental health that can inhibit these ambitions and values. Studies have revealed that medical students well-being deteriorate after students begin medical training and remains poor throughout the training. At individual level, the distress can contribute to poor academic achievement and personal developments. At professional level, as medical pratitioners, studies have shown that distress students can lead to cynicism and subsequently may affects students' relationships with faculty, patients' care, feeling inadequate and unsatisfied with their career, and ultimately the culture of the medical profession. These are the reality of medical training that we should know and face. Perhaps, we as medical teachers need to think and come out with realistic solutions to reduce complications of medical training on medical students well-being. With that, we leave this topic open to be discussed further.