Dear Sir,
Students were involved, passively and actively, in a strike by physicians. We designed a survey aimed to assess student attitudes and reactions to a national physicians' strike in Israel. Questionnaires were distributed, 50–60 days after the beginning of the 120 day strike, by a fellow student, to students from the years 1, 2, 5 and 6 of the Technion medical school in Haifa, Israel. 144 of 195 students returned the forms; 97% believe that striking is a legitimate tool for physicians. 96% wrote that physician salaries are low or very low. 3% said financial considerations were prominent in their choice of field, whereas 43% said this had no influence at all. 43% said the suffering of patients caused by the strike was totally or near totally justified. 42% said that physicians were more of a role model as a result of the strike. 20% felt the strike increased physician prestige, 54% saying prestige had not changed. Many less women than men intend to eventually be full or part-time hospital physicians. Preclinical students were less bothered by the ethical dilemmas presented by striking. Students expressed discomfort with having been victimized by the strike, rather than having been seen as partners with physicians. As physicians and educators, it behoves us to consider carefully the effect of a strike on medical students. Students may be seen as allies, not as a burden, during strikes. Students will learn, including by example, how to behave when worker committees determine that a medical service is to be closed or slowed-down as part of a strike. The benefits gained by any strike will be reaped by medical students, and students have a clear interest in the success of a strike. The future of medicine as a career will clearly be influenced by medical economic issues which press from many directions. Students may clarify attitudes and values regarding their positions on striking through open discussions with mentors. It is up to medical educators to bring up economic aspects of a medical career, including the issue of physician strikes, to help future physicians deal with this emerging issue. The main conclusion to be drawn is that the effects of striking on medical students should be considered and attended to in timely fashion by physicians and teachers of physicians.
Jesse Lachter
Israel Institute of Technology
Email: [email protected]
Liat Lachter
Haifa University
Email: [email protected]
Itzhak Beiran
Israel Institute of Technology
Email: [email protected]