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

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.

Acknowledgments

The authors report no acknowledgements for this article.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no declarations of interest.

Notes on contributors

Dr Helen Church is currently a PhD student in the field of Medical Education, focusing on enhancing the potential of learners through the use of sports psychology and metacognition. Her clinical background is in Anaesthetics and Critical Care.

Professor Deborah Murdoch-Eaton is the Dean of Medical Education at The Medical School, The University of Sheffield and a Consultant Neuro-paediatrician at Sheffield Children’s Hospital.

Dr Rakesh Patel is a Clinical Associate Professor in Medical Education at the University of Nottingham, and Honorary Consultant Nephrologist at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust.

Professor John Sandars is Professor of Medical Education at Edge Hill University. His clinical background was in General Practice.