What can medical educators learn from the Rio 2016 Olympic Games?

Church, Helen; Murdoch-Eaton, Deborah; Patel, Rakesh; Sandars, John

Abstract

Medical Educators face an ongoing challenge in optimizing preparedness for practice for newly qualified doctors. Junior doctors have highlighted specific areas in which they do not feel adequately equipped to undertake their duties, including managing the acutely unwell patient. In these highly stressful, time-critical scenarios it might be assumed that a lack of knowledge underpins these feelings of apprehension from junior medics; however, having studied, trained and passed examinations to demonstrate such knowledge, perhaps other factors should be considered. The recent Olympic Games in Rio demonstrated the impact of sport psychology techniques in allowing athletes to achieve their optimum performance in the face of adversity. The use of mental and behavioral strategies to control feelings of anxiety and low self-efficacy are pivotal for athletes to deliver their best performance under extreme pressure. We consider whether such techniques could improve the preparedness of the newest recruits to the healthcare system, and the impact this could have on patient care. Finally, suggestions for potential research directions within this area are offered to stimulate interest amongst the research community.

Citation

Church, H., Murdoch-Eaton, D., Patel, R., & Sandars, J. (2017). What can medical educators learn from the Rio 2016 Olympic Games?. Medical Teacher, 39(6), 665-666. https://doi.org/10.1080/0142159x.2016.1270440

• Journal Article Type: Commentary
• Acceptance Date: Dec 7, 2016
• Online Publication Date: Feb 28, 2017
• Publication Date: Jun 3, 2017
• Deposit Date: Mar 28, 2020
• Journal: Medical Teacher
• Print ISSN: 0142-159X
• Electronic ISSN: 1466-187X
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis Open
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 39
• Issue: 6
• Pages: 665-666
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/0142159x.2016.1270440
• Keywords: Education; General Medicine
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/3259389
• Publisher URL: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/0142159X.2016.1270440?journalCode=imte20
• Additional Information: Peer Review Statement: The publishing and review policy for this title is described in its Aims & Scope.; Aim & Scope: http://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?show=aimsScope&journalCode=imte20