Studying medicine and quality of life

Medicine plays an important part in ensuring the wellbeing of people, but quality of life matters too for medical professionals. Although we mainly target our actions towards a better quality of life of our patients, we should not neglect the importance of taking a look in our own little world.

Medical students face demanding tasks throughout medical school, and our first years as junior doctors include tight schedules, severe time constraints, and often considerable limitations to our lives. We cannot overlook the impact and long term consequences of such a routine, which can be serious and disabling or even counterproductive.

Do we eat and sleep properly? Can we cope with stress? Do we give ourselves enough time to be creative, to expand our other talents and interests, thereby living to our full potential? Is our social life balanced, and are we spending enough quality time with loved ones?

Also, the country we live in has a certain standard of development, certain values, cultural norms, and lifestyle. How does that shape our quality of life?

Does a student in the United States, where the gross domestic product per capita (purchasing power parity) in 2005 was $41-800 (£23-800; €34-300),1 necessarily have a better quality of life than one living in Angola with a medium income a year of $2500?2