Year: 2005
Type: dissertation
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Little uniquely identifiable information about Hispanic women who gain \nentrance into medical school is known. A few studies that focus just on stress in \nHispanic women in medical school have found unique stressors. This research \nexamines stress in Hispanic women students (all four years) at Texas A&M University \nSystem Health Science Center College of Medicine (TAMUS-HSC) at College \nStation and at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) at Galveston, Texas. \nTwenty- four women took part in this project. \nData was gathered using a packet of questionnaires, incorporating Sheridan and \nRadmachers Comprehensive Scale of Stress Assessment and the Personal Style \nInventory (1987 and 1991) and The Community Oriented Primary Care (COPC) \nStudent Project: Stress in First-Year Medical Students (Lensky, Noori, Matsukuma, \nMelamud & Chen, 1999). Each woman was personally interviewed. \nThe results suggest increased stress and unique stressors found by others who \nhave researched Hispanic women in medical school. The intensity of medical school \ncoupled with the stress that engulfs them from fear and sometimes anger (two stress \nemotions) stemming from worry about failure in school and worry about student loans \nthat they are fearful they may not be able to repay causes high stress. Social, ethnic, \nand cultural bias and norms barriers to which they struggle to overcome anger them. \nResults from investigation of coping strategies suggest the women are coping as well \nas can be expected and are joyous over what they are doing. They rely on social groups \nto give them support. The knowledge they have obtained that there is prejudice toward \ntheir academic qualifications seems to make them more determined. They appear to be \nnon-traditional and strong women who feel they are destined to become medical \ndoctors \nThis research should add valuable information to future research in this area. It \nis suggested by this author that there is a need for substantial, active, immediate and \nconstant support for all minority students in Texas medicine. It is of necessity that \nminority mentors be trained and efforts made to put in place a program that works to \nsupport the women who are struggling and in fear of failing out.
Author: Connelly Nicholson Anita
Language: English
Subfield: General Health Professions
Field: Health Professions
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2777377030