My idea was simple.  As 2nd year medical students, we are expected to examine patients in hospitals, and 2/3 of us will be doing our duty in government hospitals.  We will be touching, examining, talking to some of the least affluent folks of Cebu city and province.  And gloves won't be provided, as a routine, to save on government funds.

 

We all know the risks.  We've all taken parasitology, and are currently taking microbiology.  As future doctors we assume the risk of being the first line of defense against any plague or epidemic that might roll into town.  Somehow, we can only hope, but can't guarantee that our increased exposure to pathogens will not make us sick individuals.

So when I finally got a correct diagnosis for my itch, I thought it would be interesting to make it public.  It was a contagious parasitic infection called scabies (which I probably picked up from a hotel bedsheet while on vacation with my parents in Bohol).  It is inexpensive to treat, and by the time I was making it known to my classmates, I was already well into my treatment which probably made me noncontagious at that point.  Nonetheless, I was curious as to how my medical classmates would handle the news.  The results were astounding!  Based on class behaviour, i'd say it took about 2 weeks for the rumor to fully circulate (the information was originally seeded by a status post in facebook, and verbal mention of my affliction to a few classmates). 

Of the future doctors, the following groups could be observed:

Daredevils, 10% - these were individuals who for shock value or perhaps in support of my situation (both my affliction and the whispers behind my back that some may have thought i was unaware of) increased their physical contact with me compared to the usual, by patting me on the back or initiating handshakes. 
Don't cares - 30% - these were folks whose behavior did not change, and perhaps this group is confounded by those who didnt know - but its unlikely since in the Philippines no rumor goes unheard.
Confronters - 10% - these were classmates who actually asked me questions about my condition, or let me know that they are aware.  They were upfront about their fears of being infected, and we had a dialogue over how it can be avoided.
Avoiders - 20% - these were classmates who significantly reduced their physical contact with me due to the rumors.  These range in intensity from avoidance of handshakes to "this seat is taken" type of behavior.  To avoid bias, some alleged avoiders were tested by lightly touching on the shoulder from behind in order to initiate conversation.  A strongly negative or a startled reaction was interpreted as a confirmatory sign of avoider status.
Panickers - 10% - these were classmates whose reactions were simply off the wall.  I am talking entering an elevator crowded with classmates on the way to class, and finding myself in an empty half while 10 people huddle together in the full half.  Some panickers significantly increased their standing distance from me during conversation, although scabies is clearly not transmissible through air.

So my percentages don't add up and I don't care.  Just view them as proportions.  The bottom line is that I had no idea id encounter such diverse reactions from a group that studies the same knowledge of disease, infection and epidemiology, and is taking the same risks in terms of disease exposure in career.  Which group do I like best?  Probably the confronters.  These guys clearly have a fear of being infected, but still persist in getting to the truth and are willing to base their interactions with me on evidence rather than rumor. As for panickers and avoiders?  I dont mind, else i wouldn't have made this little experiment.  It was definitely not personal.  I do feel tho that these categories really need to examine their motivations for becoming physicians.  Starting this week, you'll be touching patients some of whom carry multiple parasites and infections, some who havent seen a doctor in years, some who live alongside sewage rivers, kids who swim in sewage canals by the road during rain, and older, immunocompromised patients who are host to multiple contagious diseases.  Are you up for the risk? 

Oh and in case anyone wonders, im ok already:)