The experiences of autistic medical students: A phenomenological study

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Shaw, S. C. K., Doherty, M., & Anderson, J. L. (2023). The experiences of autistic medical students: A phenomenological study. Medical Education, 57(10), 971-979. https://doi.org/10.1111/medu.15119

Publication date: 1 Jun 2023 Added to AutiHub: 5 Jul 2026 Type: Article Article language: English
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Authors

Publication authors
3
Publication authors identified as autistic
2 / 3 (66.7%)
  1. Sebastian Charles Keith Shaw *
  2. Mary Doherty *
  3. John L. Anderson

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Increasing recognition of autism is reflected in the growing awareness of autistic health care providers. Regulatory bodies including the UK General Medical Council and the UK Medical Schools Council have published guidance fostering inclusion. Whilst many autistic doctors and students are thriving, many may not disclose their diagnosis unless difficulties arise, which perpetuates stereotypes. No studies have explored the experiences of autistic medical students. We aimed to do this. METHODS: This was an interpretive phenomenological study. Autistic medical students were recruited using Facebook announcements. Participants underwent audio-recorded, loosely structured interviews. Recordings were transcribed verbatim and underwent an interpretive phenomenological analysis. RESULTS: Five participated from five different UK medical schools. Constructed themes included: Autistic profiles and stereotypes-'I'm a lot better with patients than I am with my peers, with staff, which is hard for a lot of people to understand'; sensory processing and the learning environment-'noises really hurt my ears … It actually hurts'; me, myself and masking-'so, medicine's hard. But I'm also studying myself and I'm figuring myself out and that degree is harder'; the social world-'I always feel like I'm watching my back'; and navigating the system-'[they say] "but you're going to be a doctor one day, so you need to get used to it"'. CONCLUSION: Participants longed for understanding and support from their medical schools. They reported experiences of isolation, bullying and anxiety. Most felt themselves to be victims of the system, whereby they were expected to adapt themselves in order to appear non-autistic. When participants reported not coping due to being autistic, most were advised to 'take time out'. None were offered personalised adjustments to their learning environment. All reported strengths associated with being autistic. This supports the assertion that autistic people can be safe, effective and skilled doctors.

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These indicators describe the cited bibliography imported for this publication. Cited-reference metrics use the cited-reference total as denominator. Cited-author metrics state whether they use all cited-author occurrences or only occurrences linked to authors already integrated in the AutiHub database. They use cached links between cited authors and authors integrated in the AutiHub database. Last computed: 16 Aug 2026 11:30.

Cited references
55
Total cited references integrated for this publication.
Cited references with an identified autistic author
21 / 55 (38.2%)
Cited author occurrences identified as autistic
49 / 187 (26.2%)
Among occurrences linked to AutiHub author records: 49 / 127 (38.6%). Distinct cited authors identified as autistic: 19 / 139 (13.7%).
Cited author occurrences linked to AutiHub author records
127 / 187 (67.9%)
Distinct linked cited authors: 79 / 139 (56.8%)
Linked cited-author occurrences not identified as autistic
78 / 127 (61.4%)
Among linked cited-author occurrences only. Across all cited-author occurrences: 78 / 187 (41.7%). Distinct linked cited authors not identified as autistic: 60 / 79 (75.9%).
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