The ethical approach of medical students life and health during preclinical years of studies

Abstract

Introduction: Teaching courses that emphasize the importance of multilateral conception of life and health during the first years of studies at Medical University have a great importance nowadays. The actuality of this theme is distinguished by the fact that students being deeply involved in studying some subjects can ignore not only the medical importance of this conception, but also its value. Purpose and Objectives: The main purpose of this work is to improve medical students’ life and health ethical approach during preclinical years of studies. In order to emphasize this purpose it’s necessary to point out some objectives, such as: to form and strengthen some adequate ethical visions to this type of students; to test these students’ mood concerning their own beliefs about the value of life and health; to form efficient methods concerning the implementation of these values during clinical years of studies and afterwards in medical practice. Materials and Methods: Different scientific materials published related to this subject have been used in this research. There have been applied the analytical, bioethical, comparative-historical and sociological methods. Results: Courses that contain information about ethics are welcome in the process of forming and developing some ethical visions about life and health during the first years of studies at the Faculty of Medicine. This may essentially contribute to the formation of a new opinion about the real value and importance of life, thus, being a support for the clinical years, implementing these conceptions in medical practice. There have been made different investigations among 1st year medical students, among 1st and 2nd year students of Faculty of Medicine and Faculty of Dentistry'. As a result, it has been established that 47% of them lack a consolidated ethical attitude about life and health. The majority of them showed a favorable attitude in adequate specifying of ethical values of life. Therefore it's necessary to study thoroughly the process of developing a proper moral-spiritual attitude of students in order to facilitate the easier assimilation of values “life” and “health”. Conclusion: To consolidate ethical positions concerning the correct conception of values “life“ and “health”, it’s necessary to motivate medical students by establishing some well-defined aims during the process of clinical studies.