The term 'neurophobia' was first coined over twenty years ago in the United States to describe medical students' 'fear of neural sciences and clinical neurology'.1 Neurophobia is now accepted to be a 'chronic disease of medical students globally' andis becoming ever more prevalent in the veterinary profession.2"4 Neurophobia results from a lack of integration of neurophysiology, neuroanatomy and clinical information and was identified as a key reason that students were unable to effectively diagnoseand treat common neurological conditions.1'5 Neurology is perceived as a complex subject that is academically challenging and difficult to apply in clinical practice.6 The need to know neuroanatomy, the wide range of diagnoses and inadequate, teaching in some universities further contributes to neurophobia.2 Despite these challenges students' interest in neurology remains extremely high and was second only to cardiology, but perceived knowledge and confidence were consistently scored lower than in allother medical disciplines.7 Neurology remains a subject that medical and veterinary students want to master but find it almost impossible to do so.
展开▼