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Reducing Stress and Promoting Social Integration of International Medical Students through a Tandem Program: Results of a Prospective-Program Evaluation

Author

Listed:
  • Anne Herrmann-Werner

    (Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Medical University Hospital Tuebingen, University of Tuebingen, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany
    A. Herrmann-Werner and F. Junne equally contributed to this manuscript (shared first authorship) and are listed in alphabetical order.)

  • Florian Junne

    (Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Medical University Hospital Tuebingen, University of Tuebingen, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany
    A. Herrmann-Werner and F. Junne equally contributed to this manuscript (shared first authorship) and are listed in alphabetical order.)

  • Felicitas Stuber

    (Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Medical University Hospital Tuebingen, University of Tuebingen, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany)

  • Daniel Huhn

    (Centre for Psychosocial Medicine, Department of General Internal Medicine and Psychosomatics, University Hospital Heidelberg, Thibautstraße 2, 69115, Heidelberg, Germany)

  • Christoph Nikendei

    (Centre for Psychosocial Medicine, Department of General Internal Medicine and Psychosomatics, University Hospital Heidelberg, Thibautstraße 2, 69115, Heidelberg, Germany)

  • Tanja Seifried-Dübon

    (Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Medical University Hospital Tuebingen, University of Tuebingen, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany)

  • Stephan Zipfel

    (Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Medical University Hospital Tuebingen, University of Tuebingen, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany)

  • Rebecca Erschens

    (Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Medical University Hospital Tuebingen, University of Tuebingen, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany)

Abstract

Medical students, and especially international medical students (IMS), have been shown to experience more psychological distress than the general student population in Germany. In order to address these issues, a structured Tandem Program (TP) to reduce stress and foster social integration of IMS has been introduced at the Medical Faculty of Tuebingen. The Tandem Program was evaluated prospectively with perceived stress (PSQ-20) as the main outcome. Secondary outcomes were ‘motives to participate’ in the TP, ‘specific stressors’, and ‘experiences made’ during the program. Stress levels of IMS at the beginning of the program (t 0 ) (M = 48.14, SD = 11.95) were higher than those of German participants (M = 39.33, SD = 8.31) (t (67) = −3.66, p < 0.001). At the end of the TP (t 1 ), stress levels of international students were significantly lower than at t 0 . “Improved ability to work in a team” was seen as one of the most beneficial factors. The results indicate that tandem programs at medical faculties may be a promising curricular intervention towards reducing stress levels, improving integration of international students, and to enhance intercultural and team-oriented competencies in both international and national medical students.

Suggested Citation

  • Anne Herrmann-Werner & Florian Junne & Felicitas Stuber & Daniel Huhn & Christoph Nikendei & Tanja Seifried-Dübon & Stephan Zipfel & Rebecca Erschens, 2018. "Reducing Stress and Promoting Social Integration of International Medical Students through a Tandem Program: Results of a Prospective-Program Evaluation," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-14, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:15:y:2018:i:9:p:1959-:d:168526
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    Cited by:

    1. Daniel Huhn & Carolin Schmid & Rebecca Erschens & Florian Junne & Anne Herrmann-Werner & Andreas Möltner & Wolfgang Herzog & Christoph Nikendei, 2018. "A Comparison of Stress Perception in International and Local First Semester Medical Students Using Psychometric, Psychophysiological, and Humoral Methods," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-16, December.

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