A Response to “Assessment of Student Perspectives on Improving Wellness in Medical School: Qualitative Results from a Cross-Sectional Survey of Medical Students in Florida” [Letter]

Abstract Background A high prevalence of mental illnesseshave been detected in medical students (MS) during college. The aim of this study was to evaluate depressive symptoms (DS) and suicidal ideation (SI) in MS and estimate factors that can influence these conditions. Methods In November 2018 a cross-sectional survey was conducted at the School of Medicine of Turin, Italy. The questionnaire consisted of a 30-item sociodemographic part and 3 psychometric tests, including the Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II). Overall, 506 surveys were collected. Multivariable logistic regressions were performed mainly. The significance level was p ≤ 0.05. Results Females were 65% and median age was 22 (IQR 19-24). Median BDI-II score was 9 (IQR 4-15). Presence of DS (BDI-II score>13) and of SI was found in 29% and 15% of the sample, respectively. Preliminary results showed that females (OR 2.03, CI: 1.16-3.56), non-heterosexuals (OR 2.69, CI: 1.49-4-84), participants negative about their college choice (OR 4.79, CI: 2.78-8.26) had a higher risk to report DS. MS who consider unsatisfying their friendships with classmates had a higher likelihood of reporting DS and SI (OR 3.10, CI: 1.16-8.30; OR 2.91, CI: 1.10-7.68, respectively). While the opposite was for those with good economic condition (OR 0.39, CI: 0.16-0.91; OR 0.21, CI: 0.09-0.52, respectively) and those practicing sports more than 90 min/week (OR 0.60, CI: 0.37-0.99; OR 0.47, CI: 0.25-0.89, respectively). Choosing Medicine for profit was related to a higher risk of reporting SI (OR 3.36, CI: 1.43-7.92), having a good family bond to a lower risk instead (OR 0.42, CI: 0.20-0.84). Conclusions Since depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide, it has to be a public health priority in Europe. It is essential to consider MS as at risk and set up interventions to improve factors surrounding them and help them to face difficulties in personal and academic life, without forgetting that they will be the future health professionals. Key messages Females, non-heterosexuals, students negative about Medical School choice and students unsatisfied with their friendships with classmates had a higher risk of reporting depressive symptoms. Students unsatisfied with their friendships with classmates and students who chose Medical School for profit had a higher risk of reporting suicidal ideation.

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Peer Review #2 of "Association of academic stress with sleeping difficulties in medical students of a Pakistani medical school: a cross sectional survey (v0.1)"

10.7287/peerj.840v0.1/reviews/2 ◽

2015 ◽

Author(s):

S Cherkil

Keyword(s):

Medical Students ◽

Medical School ◽

Peer Review ◽

Academic Stress ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional

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Motivating Factors of and Perceived Barriers to Research at a Canadian Medical University with Regional Campuses: A Cross-Sectional Survey Study

Journal of Regional Medical Campuses ◽

10.24926/jrmc.v4i3.3934 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 4 (3) ◽

Author(s):

Jennifer Leigh ◽

Maroof Khalid ◽

Jennifer Tsang

Keyword(s):

Medical Students ◽

Medical School ◽

Research Training ◽

Critical Evaluation ◽

Perceived Barriers ◽

Motivating Factors ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Research Project ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Regional Campuses

Introduction Research training programs are an integral part of a well-rounded medical education. These programs help students contribute to medical knowledge, develop skills in critical evaluation and research dissemination, and they facilitate the training of our future medical researchers. Existing literature suggests barriers including lack of available time and access to projects may hinder a medical student’s research training. These barriers likely differ based on the medical school curriculum, and there exists limited data looking at these attitudes in Canadian students, students outside large academic centers or those in condensed programs. Given this, our study aims to further explore medical students' perceptions, perceived barriers of research in a three-year Canadian undergraduate medical school with regional campuses. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional survey of medical students (classes of 2019, 2020 and 2021) representing the main and regional campuses of the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine in Ontario, Canada to explore their attitudes towards research. Descriptive statistics were used to describe participant demographics, research background and attitudes towards research. Results Overall, 70.4% of students identified as being involved in a research project at some point during their medical school tenure. Motivating factors for research participation included the goal of obtaining a residency spot (63.0%), and interest in their research topic (74.7%). Barriers to research included perceived lack of available time (31.5%), and difficulty in finding a research project (44.5%). Perceived curriculum deficiencies included lack of education in research methodology and appraisal of scientific literature (93.2% and 89.0%, respectively). Lastly, regional campuses tended conduct their research outside of their home campus (43.6% vs 3.3%, p<0.0001). Conclusion The findings from our study highlighted the students’ attitudes towards research in a Canadian medical school that has multiple campuses and a shortened medical curriculum (3-year). It identifies potential areas of improvement from a student perspective, which can hopefully be utilized by medical educators to continue the improvement of medical trainee research training.

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Prevalence of Mistreatment or Belittlement among Medical Students – A Cross Sectional Survey at a Private Medical School in Karachi, Pakistan

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0013429 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 5 (10) ◽

pp. e13429 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Sana Shoukat ◽

Mariam Anis ◽

Danesh K. Kella ◽

Fahad Qazi ◽

Fatima Samad ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Medical Students ◽

Medical School ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Private Medical School

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Peer Review #1 of "Association of academic stress with sleeping difficulties in medical students of a Pakistani medical school: a cross sectional survey (v0.1)"

10.7287/peerj.840v0.1/reviews/1 ◽

2015 ◽

Keyword(s):

Medical Students ◽

Medical School ◽

Peer Review ◽

Academic Stress ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional

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Knowledge and attitudes of U.S. medical students regarding the care of Asian American patients: a cross-sectional survey study

BMC Medical Education ◽

10.1186/s12909-021-02568-0 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Sharon Pang ◽

Hursuong Vongsachang ◽

Thomas K. Le ◽

George Q. Zhang ◽

Taibo Li ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Medical Students ◽

Medical School ◽

Asian American ◽

Survey Study ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Explicit Bias ◽

Caucasian Patients ◽

The U.S ◽

Growing Population

Abstract Background Asian Americans (AsAm) are a rapidly growing population in the U.S. With this growing population, U.S. healthcare providers must be equipped to provide culturally competent care for AsAm patients. This project surveyed U.S. medical students on their knowledge of and attitudes towards AsAm to assess predictors of readiness to care for AsAm patients. Method This cross-sectional study surveyed medical students who had completed at least one clinical rotation. The survey was distributed online to nine medical schools throughout the U.S. The survey measured self-rated knowledge of, comfort with, cultural competency (CC) towards, and explicit biases towards AsAm patients. The first three domains were analyzed in a multivariate regression model including sociodemographic characteristics and past clinical, curricular, and social experiences with AsAm. Explicit bias questions were reported descriptively. Results There were 688 respondents. Asian race, AsAm-prevalent hometown, AsAm-related extracurricular activities, Asian language knowledge, and having taken a population health course predicted increased AsAm knowledge. Social interactions with AsAm increased comfort with AsAm patients. Increasing year in medical school, more frequent exposure to AsAm patients on rotations, and prior travel to an Asian country were predictors of increased CC toward AsAm. Importantly, having completed a CC course was a significant predictor in all domains. In terms of explicit bias, students felt that AsAm patients were more compliant than Caucasian patients. Students also believed that Caucasian patients were generally more likely to receive self-perceived “preferred” versus “acceptable” care, but that in their own clinical experiences neither group received preferred care. Conclusion Experience with and exposure to AsAm prior to and during medical school and CC courses may increase medical student knowledge, comfort, and CC with AsAm patients. Standardized and longitudinal CC training, increased simulations with AsAm patients, diverse student recruitment, and support for students to engage in AsAm-related activities and interact with AsAm may improve CC of future physicians towards AsAm patients and possibly other minority populations.

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