Coping with cancer: a brief report on stress and coping strategies in medical students dealing with cancer patients

Background: This pilot study explored factors associated with stress in medical students during their initial clinical contact with cancer patients, in particular identifying stress levels and coping strategies used. Methods: A total of 80 medical students at The University of Birmingham Medical School, UK, completed retrospective self‐report questionnaires measuring socio‐demographics, potential stressors and coping strategies (using the Brief COPE inventory). Statistical analysis followed data collection. Findings: Of all socio‐demographic categories, female gender correlated with the highest stress score (p