[Social representation of chemotherapy and cancer among intern trainee doctor in Ouagadougou]

Abstract

Introduction: The perceptions that postgraduate medical students have about cancer and chemotherapy could have an impact on the quality of their interactions with their future patients. We conducted this study in order to highlight their representational field for chemotherapy and cancer.

Method: From February 1st to May 31st 2018, 618 students from the 3rd cycle in medical studies from Saint-Thomas d'Aquin University and Ouaga I Pr Joseph Ki-Zerbo of the city of Ouagadougou took part in the study. They were given self-administered questionnaire, which include a collection of free and hierarchical evocations in response to the inducers "cancer" and "chemotherapy". They were also asked to propose arguments to convince and gain trust of a fictitious patient waiting for chemotherapy.

Results: The fatal aspect of cancer was largely present in their representational world. The representational field of chemotherapy was related to the side effects and the expensive aspect of anticancer drugs. In spite of a negative representation of cancer, students were able to find words with positive connotations to convince patients waiting for chemotherapy to follow treatment.

Discussion: Knowing these representations makes it possible to understand the stakes of the doctor-patient relationship in order to improve the training of future doctors, as well as the care of patients.

Keywords: Anticancer chemotherapy; Chimiothérapie anticancéreuse; Ouagadougou; Postgraduate students in medical studies; Représentation sociale; Social representation; Étudiants en troisième cycle des études médicales.