RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Guilt, shame and negative emotion in undergraduate medical education: is there a role for Balint groups? JF Medical Humanities JO J Med Humanit FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Institute of Medical Ethics SP medhum-2020-012124 DO 10.1136/medhum-2020-012124 A1 George Greenlees A1 Laura Archer YR 2021 UL http://mh.bmj.com/content/early/2021/09/11/medhum-2020-012124.abstract AB Balint groups are a structured discussion which explores non-clinical aspects of the doctor–patient relationship. In this commentary piece we describe our experience of a Balint group for final-year medical students in a large regional hospital. We discuss that our participants reported a significant burden of negative emotion, primarily guilt and shame, in attempting to navigate the hospital environment as learners. We note how our participants perceived they would acquire the ability to manage these negative emotions simply by becoming doctors, despite being only a few months from qualification. A cultural shift in undergraduate training, combined with a challenging period for the medical profession in general, may leave new doctors isolated in the face of the emotional strain of medicine. We therefore encourage educators to consider using Balint groups as an adjunct to more traditional clinical training.