Canceled Enrollments on the UFMG Medical Course: Symptoms of Psychological Distress

ABSTRACT

The objective of the study was to investigate psychological distress given as justification by students to have canceled their enrollment on semesters of the Federal University of Minas Gerais medical course, and to identify associated factors and contexts. A retrospective, cross-sectional, qualitative and quantitative study was performed on the 141 claims made during the period of July 2007 to July 2013 by 97 students from the 1st to the 12th period of the course. Cancellations predominated in the Basic Cycle (55.3%) with psychological distress the main motivation (59.6%). The cancellations may prove to be symptoms of student psychological distress, associated with factors such as mental illness, failures, doubts over course selection, family disagreements, and what may be deemed as drug abuse. The reasons given for such cancellations warn of the need and importance of institutional investment into welfare services for medical students.

Psychological Distress; Medical Students; Hosting; –Medical Education