Psychological distress among final year medical undergraduates in a Sri Lankan university

Background: Studying medicine is challenging since medical students undergo many stressors during their long course of studying. Moreover, their final year is probably more stressful with more clinical work and stringent assessments. Aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and sources of psychological distress among final year students in University of Sri Jayewardenepura in Sri Lanka with a well validated screening tool. Methods: This is a cross sectional study of 151 medical students evaluating stress through general health questionnaire (GHQ) with 30 items. Comparison was made with another 257 non-medical undergraduates of the same university. Results: More than half of students (59.6%) in our university had psychological distress. When compared medical students (62.9%) are more distressed than non-medical (56.4%) students. Major source of stress for medical students was academic pressure. Conclusions: Final year medical students have significantly high psychological impairment and the main reason reported by students was academic pressure. It warrants implementation of stress management programs and curriculum based interventions to minimize stress.

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Prevalence and Associated Factors of Psychological Distress and Burnout among Medical Students: Findings from Two Campuses

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18168446 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (16) ◽

pp. 8446

Author(s):

Nik Muhammad Arif Nik Ahmad ◽

Nurhanis Syazni Roslan ◽

Shaiful Bahari Ismail ◽

Ramyashilpa D. Nayak ◽

Muhamad Ridzuan Jamian ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Psychological Distress ◽

Medical Students ◽

Medical Training ◽

General Health Questionnaire ◽

Skills Training ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Work Related ◽

Brief Cope ◽

And Coping

Medical training is intensive and predisposes students to psychological distress and burnout. Unaddressed burnout in medical training may persist in the internship phase and impact the quality of patient care. While some associations have been established, the link between some individual factors and training characteristics with distress and burnout in medical training remained unclear. In this study, we aim to examine the prevalence of psychological distress and burnout, and its association with gender, training phase, funding status, cumulative grade points average (CGPA), and coping strategies among medical students. The study applied a multicenter cross-sectional study design and convenience sampling on medical students from two medical schools from Malaysia and India. We used a self-reporting instrument that includes demographic details, the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ), the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI), and the Brief Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced (Brief COPE). A total of 748 medical students participated in the study. The prevalence of psychological distress, personal-related, work-related, and patient-related burnout were 33.0%, 56.1%, 35.0%, and 26.2%, respectively. Being male, clinical year, self-funded, and having a CGPA of more than 3.50 predicted psychological distress and burnout with mixed results. Maladaptive coping mechanisms consistently predicted the risk of psychological distress and burnout by more than two times. The findings indicate that primary and secondary mental health interventions have a role in medical training. A systematic intervention should incorporate coping skills training alongside institutional-targeted intervention.

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Suicidal Ideation Among Medical Students in Dammam, Saudi Arabia

Crisis ◽

10.1027/0227-5910/a000720 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-6

Author(s):

Mohammed Madadin ◽

Ritesh G. Menezes ◽

Maha A. Alassaf ◽

Abdulaziz M. Almulhim ◽

Mahdi S. Abumadini ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Saudi Arabia ◽

Medical Students ◽

Suicidal Ideation ◽

General Health Questionnaire ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Eastern Province ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

The Past ◽

Depression Subscale ◽

History Of

Abstract. Background: Medical students are at high risk of suicidal ideation. Aim: We aimed to obtain information on suicidal ideation among medical students in Dammam located in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted at the College of Medicine affiliated with Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. Suicidal ideation in the past 12 months was assessed based on responses to four questions in the depression subscale of the General Health Questionnaire 28 (GHQ-28). In addition, data were collected to examine the association of suicidal ideation with various factors. Results: We found that 1 in 3 medical students in the study had suicidal ideation in the past 12 months, while around 40% had lifetime suicidal ideation. Suicidal ideation was associated with feelings of parental neglect, history of physical abuse, and dissatisfaction with academic performance. Limitations: The cross-sectional nature of this study limits its ability to determine causality regarding suicidal ideation. Conclusion: These rates are considerably high when compared with rates from studies in other countries around the world. This study provides a reference in the field of suicidology for this region of Saudi Arabia.

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Mother-Father Differences in Postnatal Psychological Distress and Its Determinants in Iran

Open Access Macedonian Journal of Medical Sciences ◽

10.3889/oamjms.2017.009 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 5 (1) ◽

pp. 91-96 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Hassan Mahmoodi ◽

Farzaneh Golboni ◽

Haidar Nadrian ◽

Moradali Zareipour ◽

Shayesteh Shirzadi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Psychological Distress ◽

Health Care Providers ◽

General Health Questionnaire ◽

Mode Of Delivery ◽

Family Health ◽

Simple Random Sampling ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Three Dimensions ◽

Care Providers ◽

Cross Sectional

AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate the mother-father differences in Postnatal Psychological Distress (PPD) and its determinants among the parents with 8-weeks old children.MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, applying simple random sampling, 306 postnatal parents with an 8-weeks old infant in Saqqez County, Iran, were invited to answer the General Health Questionnaire-28 (GHQ-28) items through the telephone interview. Fifty-eight subjects declined to participate in the study (Response Rate = 81.04%). The data were analysed using the SPSS Statistics v. 21.RESULTS: About 16.9% of all the parents had PPD. The difference in the prevalence of PPD in three dimensions between the two groups were statistically significant (p < 0.01): social dysfunction (25.8% for fathers vs. 5.6% for mothers), somatic disorders (21% for fathers vs. 7.3% for mothers), and anxiety (21% for fathers vs. 6.5% for mothers). The mode of delivery of the mothers and the level of education, the number of children, monthly income, and being consent with pregnancy among the fathers were significant predictors for PPD.CONCLUSION: The level of PPD was more prevalent among the new fathers compared to the new mothers. Among the fathers, but not the mothers, socioeconomic characteristics were contributed to PPD. Considering the differences in risk factors for maternal and paternal PPD, our findings may help family health care providers and policymakers in designing gender-specific intervention programs and diagnosis tools aimed at PPD prevention among new parents.

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Is device-based total and domain-specific sedentary behaviour associated with psychological distress in Flemish workers?

European Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1093/eurpub/ckaa144 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Katrien De Cocker ◽

Margo Ketels ◽

Jason A Bennie ◽

Els Clays

Keyword(s):

Psychological Distress ◽

Sedentary Behaviour ◽

Sedentary Time ◽

General Health Questionnaire ◽

Modern Society ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Physically Active ◽

Work Related ◽

Domain Specific

Abstract Background There is increasing interest in the association between psychological distress and time spent in sedentary behaviour (e.g. sitting), a highly prevalent behaviour in modern society. The limited evidence is mixed and mainly based on studies using self-reported sedentary time. Few studies have investigated device-based total sedentary time in its association with distress. None, however, have examined device-based domain-specific sedentary time in relation to psychological distress. The aim of this study was to investigate whether device-based total and domain-specific sedentary behaviour were associated with psychological distress. Methods Flemish employees (n = 401; 20–64 years; 42.6% male; 83.6% had a ‘physically active occupation’) of seven organizations in service and production sectors participated. Sedentary behaviour (exposure) was assessed by two Axivity AX3 accelerometers (one placed on the thigh and one placed between the shoulders) for two to four consecutive working days. Based on diary completion, domain-specific sedentary behaviour (leisure vs. work) was assessed. The 12-item General Health Questionnaire was used to assess psychological distress (outcome). Adjusted hierarchical multiple regression models were conducted to report on the associations between total and domain-specific sedentary behaviour and psychological distress. Results About 35% of the sample had high levels of distress and average total sedentary time was 7.2 h/day. Device-based total sedentary behaviour [B = −0.009, 95% confidence interval (CI), −0.087 to 0.068], leisure-time (B = 0.001, 95% CI, −0.017 to 0.018) and work-related (B = 0.004, 95% CI, −0.006 to 0.015) sedentary behaviour were not significantly associated with psychological distress. Conclusion This cross-sectional study examining the association between device-based total and domain-specific sedentary behaviour and psychological distress among employees showed a lack of significant findings.

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Sleep quality and its association with psychological distress and sleep hygiene: a cross-sectional study among pre-clinical medical students

Sleep Science ◽

10.5935/1984-0063.20180043 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 11 (4) ◽

pp. 274-280 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Mojtaba Rezaei ◽

Moein Khormali ◽

Samaneh Akbarpour ◽

Khosro Sadeghniiat-Hagighi ◽

Mansour Shamsipour

Keyword(s):

Psychological Distress ◽

Medical Students ◽

Sleep Quality ◽

Sleep Hygiene ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional

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Does pain, psychological distress and deteriorated family economy follow traumatic amputation among war casualties? A retrospective, cross-sectional study from Gaza

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2019-029892 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (6) ◽

pp. e029892 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Hanne Edoy Heszlein-Lossius ◽

Yahya Al-Borno ◽

Samar Shaqqoura ◽

Nashwa Skaik ◽

Lasse Melvaer Giil ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Psychological Distress ◽

Family Income ◽

General Health Questionnaire ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Physical Pain ◽

Rehabilitation Centre ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Family Economy ◽

Current Employment Status ◽

Extremity Amputation

ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to explore determinants of psychosocial distress and pain in patients who have survived severe extremity amputation in Gaza.SettingThis study was conducted in a secondary care rehabilitation centre in Gaza, Palestine. The clinic is Gaza’s sole provider of artificial limbs.ParticipantsWe included 254 civilian Palestinians who had survived but lost one or more limb(s) during military incursions from 2006 to 2016. We included patients with surgically treated amputation injuries who attended physical rehabilitation at a specialist prosthesis centre in Gaza. Amputees with injuries prior to 2006 or non-military related injuries were excluded.We assessed their pain and psychological stress using the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12). We used income, amputation severity scored by proximity to torso, current employment status, loss of family members and loss of home as independent variables.ResultsThe amputees median age was 23 years at the time of trauma, while a median of 4.3 years had passed from trauma to study inclusion. Nine of 10 were male, while 43 were children when they were amputated (17%≤18 years). One hundred and ninety-one (75%) were unemployed and 112 (44%) reported unemployment caused by being amputated. Pain was the most frequent problem, and 80 amputees (32%) reported to suffer from daily pain. Family income was significantly correlated with the physical pain (OR=0.54, CI 0.36 to 0.80, p=0.002). Psychological distress was higher among unemployed amputees (OR=1.36, CI 1.07 to 1.72, p=0.011). We found no association between psychological distress (GHQ-scores) and the extent of the initial amputation.ConclusionPain and psychological distress following war-related extremity amputation of one or more limbs correlated stronger with deteriorated family economy and being unemployed than with the anatomical and medical severity of extremity amputations.

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Attitudes on euthanasia among medical students and doctors in Sri Lanka: a cross sectional study

BMC Medical Ethics ◽

10.1186/s12910-021-00731-2 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (1) ◽

Author(s):

H. M. M. T. B. Herath ◽

K. W. S. M. Wijayawardhana ◽

U. I. Wickramarachchi ◽

Chaturaka Rodrigo

Keyword(s):

Medical Students ◽

Sri Lanka ◽

Work Experience ◽

Assisted Suicide ◽

Significant Proportion ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Medical Undergraduates

Abstract Background Euthanasia is a topic of intense ethical debate and it is illegal in most countries at present, including Sri Lanka. The aim of this descriptive cross-sectional study of medical students and practicing doctors was to explore the acceptance of euthanasia and physician assisted suicide (PAS), and factors influencing this opinion. Methods A customised online questionnaire which explored opinions on euthanasia was administered to first and final year medical undergraduates in University of Colombo and practicing doctors with more than 5 years of work experience at The National Hospital of Sri Lanka. Attitudes on euthanasia and PAS were also assessed with the attitudes towards euthanasia (ATE) Scale, which is a 10-item questionnaire. Results A total of 425 individuals responded (males: 178, 42%, age: median – 27 years), which included 143 (33.6%) first-year medical undergraduates, 141 (33.2%) final-year medical undergraduates and 141 (33.2%) practicing doctors. More participants (200, 47.1%) favoured legalizing euthanasia than those directly opposing it (110, 25.9%), but a significant proportion (27%) remained undecided. The mean scores of ATE questionnaire from the whole sample were generally unfavourable towards euthanasia/PAS. Accepting euthanasia as an option for oneself (p = < 0.001) was the strongest predictor of favouring euthanasia/PAS or supporting its legalization. Conclusion In this cross-sectional survey, more respondents supported legalisation of euthanasia in Sri Lanka than those openly opposing it. Yet, a significant minority that responded as “undecided” for legalisation, were more likely to have unfavourable ATE.

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An observational study to assess the knowledge and attitude of medical students regarding hand washing

International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health ◽

10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20192854 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 6 (7) ◽

pp. 3076

Author(s):

Shashi Saxena ◽

Saurabh Mishra ◽

Huma Khan

Keyword(s):

Medical Students ◽

Hand Hygiene ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Hand Washing ◽

Multiple Choice Questions ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Hygiene Practices ◽

Proper Training ◽

Medical Undergraduates ◽

Knowledge And Attitude

Background: Hand hygiene is a milestone in the field of infectious disease control. Promotion of improved hand hygiene has been recognized as an important public health measure. Therefore hand washing is being promoted in various ways. This study has been conducted to assess the level of knowledge and attitude regarding hand hygiene practices amongst the medical students to identify areas of gaps in their knowledge, attitude and practices.Methods: This is a cross sectional study conducted among medical undergraduates of a private medical college in western Utter Pradesh. A pre tested questionnaire with multiple choice questions was used for collection of data.Results: A total of 246 MBBS students participated in the study out of which 50.4 % students were male and rest were female. 78.5% participants were belonging to the age group 19-21 years. Students have good knowledge of hand washing irrespective of their educational front.Conclusions: The results of our study are fairly good still a proper training program is required to generate awareness among the community. Maintenance of hand hygiene should be a part of our education system at primary level.

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EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT;

The Professional Medical Journal ◽

10.29309/tpmj/2018.25.08.52 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 25 (08) ◽

pp. 1270-1276

Author(s):

Rizwana Kamran ◽

Mohamed Al-Eraky ◽

Faisal Izhaar ◽

Khalid Mahmood Anjum

Keyword(s):

Social Sciences ◽

Medical Students ◽

Response Rate ◽

Operating Experience ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Educational Environment ◽

Undergraduate Medical Students ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Medical Undergraduates ◽

Study Setting

Objectives: To measure the perceptions of medical students on the learningenvironment in surgical theater of FMH College of Medicine and Dentistry, Lahore, Pakistan.Study Design: Teaching hospital-based cross-sectional study. Setting: Fatima MemorialHospital College of Medicine and Dentistry, Lahore, Pakistan. Period: January 2017 to June2017. Methods: The Mini-Surgical Theater Educational Environment Measure (mini-STEEM)(thirteen items from the STEEM inventory) was used to measure perceptions of medicalstudents on the learning environment in surgical theater. Mini-STEEM was administered tomedical students of fourth and final year during their rotation in surgical theater at FMH Collegeof Medicine and Dentistry. Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 20 was used for non-parametricstatistical analysis. Results: Questionnaire was filled by all 134 students, with a response rate of100%. The mini-STEEM was shown to be a reliable tool to measure overall learning environmentin the surgical theater of FMH College of Medicine and Dentistry. The overall mini-STEEM meanscore was 37.66 which was below the midpoint score (39). Students’ ratings were low for twosubscales, namely: ‘Atmosphere’ and ‘Operating experience. Discrimination subscale showedhigh ratings as no significant differences of perceptions were found between male and femaleparticipants. Conclusion: The medical undergraduates perceived the educational environmentwithin the surgical theater of FMH College of Medicine and Dentistry below satisfactory. Resultsof the study implied that the environment required multiple measures for improvement in thesurgical theater to promote surgical education in undergraduate medical students.

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Perceived Stigma Towards Psychological Illness in Relation to Psychological Distress Among Medical Students in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Academic Psychiatry ◽

10.1007/s40596-020-01247-4 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 44 (5) ◽

pp. 538-544 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Dalal Ibrahim Alfayez ◽

Norah Ali AlShehri

Keyword(s):

Psychological Distress ◽

Medical Students ◽

Family Income ◽

Significant Risk ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Perceived Stigma ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Psychological Distress Scale ◽

Strongly Agree ◽

Distress Scale

Abstract Objective Due to the high prevalence of psychological distress among medical students and its related functional and cognitive implications, this study aimed to investigate the association between perceived stigma and psychological distress, estimate the prevalence of each level of distress among medical students, and determine the independent significant risk factors of outcome variables for each level of psychological distress. Methods A cross-sectional study was performed that surveyed medical students at King Saud University in 2018. Using the modified and validated stigma scale for receiving psychological help along with Kessler psychological distress scale, the survey measured perceived stigma towards mental illness in relation to the level of psychological distress. Results Among the 524 participants, 395 surveys were completed. Participants had a mean age of 21.56 years old, and 53% were female. The overall prevalence of severe psychological distress was 30.7% (N = 161). Furthermore, 25.6% of participants reported experiencing moderate distress (N = 134). Additionally, a significant association was found between females and severe psychological distress. Moreover, family income was significantly associated with severe psychological distress in the extreme lower and upper groups (5000–10,000 SR and above 20,000 SR). Participants with high levels of psychological distress were more likely than those with low levels to agree or strongly agree with 3 out of 10 items related to perceived stigma. Conclusions Medical students with moderate/severe psychological distress disclosed more concerns regarding stigma, particularly about perceived consequences of their mental health issues being revealed to others. Such opinions could cause physical health problems and decrease quality of life.

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