Medical students worried that more aggressive types of treatment seemed to overshadow the patient's well-being. Some felt that significant postoperative pain, discomfort, or damage seemed conflicted with the patient's preoperative goals and wishes. 

University of Illinois at Chicago

- Questioned the use of treatment 
- Unsure how to respond do the patient
- Difficulty in trusting the patient 
- Recognized several flaws/limitations in patient care
- Believed patient well-being was disregarded

Medical students' internal conflicts and worries  when exposed to surgical patients in pain 

Kopecky, K. E., Zens, T. J., Suwanabol, P. A., & Schwarze, M. L. (2018). Third-year medical students' reactions to surgical patients in pain: doubt, distress, and depersonalization. Journal of pain and symptom management, 56(5), 719-726.

Third-year medical students' reactions to surgical patients in pain: doubt, distress, and depersonalization

Medical students found it hard to accept the patient's suffering when witnessing types of treatments that simultaneously caused harm and discomfort. For example, while students recognized that procedures such as inserting chest tubes are vital for some patients, they still felt troubled by the pain related to it. Feelings of distress increased when the students caused the pain themselves.

Medical students questioned the use of certain treatment due to pain associated with it

Medical students found it difficult to decide whether or not to trust some patients when managing their pain through opioid usage. Students experienced mistrust with their patients as they felt several patients were over exaggerating their symptoms in order to obtain more drugs. 

Medical students found difficulty in trusting patients with a history of opioid abuse

A number of medical students felt disappointed in medicine when a surgery did not heal the patient or make them feel better. Despite the surgical team calling the surgery a success, several students doubted the medical care as it failed to alleviate the patient's health problems, but did not vocalize this concern as they worried it would affect their grades/felt inferior to experienced doctors.

Medical students recognized several flaws/limitations in patient care 

Medical students were doubtful in how to respond to the patient in pain. Most students were concerned that their own emotional response would weaken their efficiency as a doctor and believed that exhibiting indifference to patient pain was standard behavior. 

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