scholarly journals Impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic on Anxiety Levels of Medical Students in Pakistan

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 34-46
Author(s):  
M. Ahmad Mukhtar ◽  
Mukhtar Hussain ◽  
M. Omer Mukhtar ◽  
Muhammad Sajid

Covid-19 is a communicable infective disease and has been the major current health challenge since it emerged in China in late 2019. Although earlier data analyses of Dawei Wang etc. from 138 hospital of China had shown that its mortality rate is less than 5%, shown (4.3%), major concern is its widespread transmission. The Covid-19 pandemic has adversely affected economics and the mental health of millions worldwide. Fear is the one of the psychological outcomes of pandemic, but the psychological impact of the pandemic was overshadowed by financial and economic impact, which are interrelated. Conducted through an online questionnaire, this study evaluates the anxiety level of medical students of Nishtar Medical University and Multan and Quaid-e-Azam Medical College (QAMC) Bahawalpur in southern Punjab of Pakistan by using fear Covid-19 scale. The research employs the fear scale developed by Ahorsu et al. based on unidimensional 7 items, 5-point Likert scale. This scale is a valid and reliable tool and has been used to assess the fear for Covid-19 in general population. This scale has been used internationally by many researchers to measure anxiety levels. The research correlated the socio demographic variables, such as age, sex, education level and living surroundings, with anxiety levels that would help to redesign curriculum for education and to plan programs to enhance the knowledge of medical students for preventive measures against Covid-19. 577 male and female students from 1st to 5th year of bachelor’s in medicine and bachelor’s in surgery (MBBS) with ages ranging from 17 to 25 years participated in this study.

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bochra Nourhene Saguem ◽  
Amel Braham ◽  
Islem Romdhane ◽  
Selma Ben Nasr

Purpose This paper aims to assess the psychological impact of home confinement in Tunisian medical students and analyze the relationship between psychopathology and cognitive emotion regulation strategies. Design/methodology/approach In total, 251 medical students who have been in home confinement accepted to participate in an online questionnaire survey. They completed depression, anxiety and stress scale, beck hopelessness scale and cognitive emotion regulation questionnaire. Findings Moderate to extremely severe levels of depression, anxiety and stress were reported by 57.4%, 51.0% and 31.4% of medical students, respectively. Based on the cut-off value of nine, 31.1% of the participants showed high levels of hopelessness. Hierarchical regression analysis identified four cognitive emotion regulation strategies as significant independent contributors to psychopathology above and beyond home confinement related variables. Self-blame positively predicted stress. Catastrophizing positively predicted anxiety and hopelessness. Refocusing on planning negatively predicted anxiety. Positive reappraisal negatively predicted hopelessness. Practical implications Cognitive emotion regulation strategies may constitute a valuable target of preventive and interventional measures to improve medical students’ mental health. Originality/value A unique feature of this study is the demonstration of the important role played by cognitive emotion regulation strategies in predicting anxiety, stress and hopelessness in medical students. In the context of mandatory home confinement, these cognitive strategies were significant predictors of psychopathology above and beyond home confinement related variables.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kun Zou ◽  
Dandi Chen

Abstract Background Primary healthcare (PHC) is vital for providing more equitable, accessible and affordable healthcare to the population. However, there is a general lacking and disparity of distribution of PHC workforce, especially for rural areas in China as it is very hard to attract and retain high quality medical students to rural PHC. This study was to investigate the willingness of university medical students toward working in rural PHC and their perceived incentives and compare that between medical programmes. Methods An online questionnaire survey was conducted in a leading medical university of Western China in 2017. All second-year Preventive Medicine (MBP, 5 years programme) and third-year Doctorate of Medicine (MD, 8 years programme) students participated. The willingness and perceived incentives toward working in rural PHC were analysed and compared between students of the two programmes. Results A total of 201 students, including 115 MBP and 86 MD students, participated in the study. The overall willingness rate toward working in rural PHC was 16%. More MBP (23%) than MD students (7%) expressed willingness without mention of incentives (p<0.05). The most preferred incentives were adequate remuneration (62%), non-inferior working and living conditions to urban area (58%), limited service years (56%) and privilege to postgraduate education and promotion (55%), though 13% expressed willingness under no circumstances. More MBP than MD students preferred to postgraduate education and promotion (65% vs. 43%, p<0.05) and limited service years (63% vs. 56%, p<0.05), but similar in other incentives (p>0.05). The willingness rate increased from 2%~5%, 9%~14%, 27%~25%, to 81% with single-, two-, three-, four- incentives as mentioned above, and similar between students of the two programmes. Conclusions The willingness of university medical students to work in rural PHC was low. However, more MBP students show willingness than MD students. Multiple incentives including adequate remuneration, opportunities of postgraduate education and promotion, proper working and living conditions and limited service years may be much more effective than any single incentive to attract university medical students especially MBP students to rural PHC service. Further investigation of appropriate incentives in details and interventional studies are warranted to inform relevant policy making.


2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huan Liu ◽  
Ming Zhang ◽  
Zhiqing Zhou ◽  
Long Huang ◽  
Ergang Zhu ◽  
...  

Abstract Objective This study aimed to assess the Chinese medical students’ smartphone addiction and its effects on sub-health and insomnia. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted from 14 October 2020 to 14 November 2020, by administering an online questionnaire to the students of Wannan Medical College. Results Of 2741 students who completed the survey, 1,447 (52.8%) had smartphone addiction. Don’t like the major(p=0.004),alcohol consumption (p=0.001),bring smartphone to bed(p= 0.000),depression(p=0.000) and anxiety(p=0.000) strong associations of smartphone addiction.The impacts of smartphone addiction on sub-health(p=0.000) and insomnia(p=0.000) are significantly. Conclusion This survey shows that the smartphone addiction detection rate of medical students was 52.8%. Don’t like the major, alcohol consumption,bring smartphone to bed,depression and anxiety students had a higher smartphone addiction detection rate. The sub-health and insomnia of medical students are associated with smartphone addiction.


2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 131-134 ◽  
Author(s):  
Niraj Pandey ◽  
Parmananda Gogoi ◽  
Deepesh Budathoki ◽  
Gopal KC

Background: The human facial contour has always been an interesting subject for anatomists, anthropologists, plastic surgeons and artists. The purpose of study was to create and evaluate data on face anthropometry.Objectives: To determine total facial index in medical students and to compare these with the data from other population for use in forensic, archaeological studies, anatomy and plastic surgery.Methods: This is a descriptive study. A total of one hundred and forty medical students, presently studying at Kathmandu Medical College, aged between eighteen and twenty four years were selected as the subjects for the present study. Among the one hundred and forty students, forty four were female and ninety six were male. Two measurements:morphological facial length and bizygomatic breadth were taken by using spreading calibre.Results: The mean morphological facial length was 110.7mm with a standard deviation of 5.98mm in males and 102.1mm in females. Bizygomatic breadth was 130.8 mm in males & 123.5mm in females. The facial index (mean) was 86.09 in males and 84.84 in females.The dominant type of face shape in males was mesoproscopic (48.66%) followed by euriprosopic (23%), leptoprosopic (13.33%), hypereuriprosopic (13%) & hyperleptoprosopic (2%). In females the dominant type of face was also mesoprosopic (37%) followed by hypereuriprosopic (22%), euriprosopic (20.33%), leptoprosopic (19%) and hyperleptoprosopic (1.66%).Conclusion: The dominant phenotype in the studied population was mesoprosopic. The data obtained may be useful in anthropological research, forensic, genetic research, as well as in medical clinical practice.


F1000Research ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
pp. 157 ◽  
Author(s):  
Areeb Sohail Bangash ◽  
Nisreen Feroz Ali ◽  
Abdul Haseeb Shehzad ◽  
Sobia Haqqi

Objectives:The purpose of this study was to quantifythe levels of empathy amongst medical students in the first year and final year of the medical curriculum at a medical university in Karachi, Pakistan.Methods:A cross-sectional study, comprising of participating students in their first year and final year of the medical curriculum at Ziauddin University Medical College, was carried out, using the Empathy Quotient (EQ) scale consisting of 60 questions through a self-administered questionnaire. The results were collected anonymously over a time period of six months from a sample of 171 participants.Results:According to our analysis, we found 82.67% of fifth year students and 80.21% of first years showing average or above average levels of empathy. Female mean scores were 42±9.60 while males were 38.7±9.358 (P=0.03). No association was found between empathy and age of the participants (p=0.77).Conclusion:We found no significant difference in the levels of empathy between the first and fifth year medical students. However, it was shown that females exhibited higher levels of empathy than males.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 831
Author(s):  
Leela G. R. ◽  
Pandurangaiah R. ◽  
Rajamma C. K.

Background: After the announcement of vaccine in India for health care worker, medical students is one among them, they are exposed to the COVID-19 patients. Vaccination plays crucial role in controlling the pandemic, study to know the acceptability of vaccine.Methods: Total of 1030 medical students are enrolled in the prospective cross-section study done in Kerala. Online Questionnaire was filled between 1st January 2020 to 28th February 2021 and data collected and analysed.Results: Out of 1030 students we found that high rate of acceptability, 710 (67%) of students willingness to take vaccine if eligible. Females (73%) are more willing to accept vaccine then male (65%), students as good knowledge, attitude and practice towards COVID-19.Conclusions: As these students are come in health care worker we need to cover 100% vaccination in them this will be the direct impact on the general population. Increase awareness of medical college students about current available vaccine to reduce hesitancy.


Author(s):  
Ajith S. K. ◽  
Alan Gangadaran ◽  
Prabin Pradeep ◽  
Pranav K. Purushothaman ◽  
Jayakrishnan Thayyil

Background: For a highly contagious disease like COVID-19, restriction of movement and public gatherings is an age-old control measure. But these measures can have some physical and psychological impact on people. This study aimed at investigating the impact of such restrictions on the physical activities (PA) and sedentary behaviour (SB) of students at a medical college in Kozhikode. The objective was to find out the changes in PA and SB among the medical students at government medical college, Kozhikode before and after COVID-19 restrictions.Methods: Cross-sectional study was conducted using modified WHO GPAQ questionnaire sent as google form to potential candidates through whatsapp messenger. Collected data were analysed using Microsoft excel software and statistical comparison was done using the paired t test. Quantitative data was expressed as mean and SD and qualitative data as percentage.Results: The average BMI of the candidates was 21.1 kg/m2 and 21.7 kg/m2 pre and post COVID-19 restrictions, respectively. The PA was 1790.2 and 1445.4 MET minutes before and after the period of study. There is significant reduction in PA (p=0.033) and increment in SB (p<0.01). Weight gain was significant in females (p=0.02).Conclusions: There was decline in the total PA and increase in SB significantly post restriction. There was also an increase in the self-reported weight and BMI of medical students. Almost half of the students made effort to change their physical activity pattern indicating their awareness of increasing SB. 


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 18-22
Author(s):  
Archan Mukherjee ◽  
Tapas Kumar Som ◽  
Sudip Ghosh ◽  
Riya Mondal ◽  
Indranil Saha ◽  
...  

Background: Resilience is a dynamic capability which helps people to survive on challenges given appropriate social and personal contexts. Objective: To determine the resilience and to find out the association between resilience and selected socio-demographic variables, if any. Methodology: An institution based mixed method study was conducted among MBBS students from April to May, 2018 at IQ City Medical College by using Child and Youth Resilience Measures Questionnaire (CYRM-28). Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) was performed using SPSS-21software.Results: Older students, Males, 8th semester batch, and day boarder were more resilient in certain areas. In individual and contextual domain, score gradually increased with increase in age groups. Resilience score were more or less similar among both the sexes. 8th semester students were found to be more resilient in all the domains. Personal skills, social skills, psychological care giving, education, played much larger role in differences across the sex, age, semester, and accommodation. Conclusion:Thus counselling and more teacher student bonding are required to propagate the resilience of the medical students. More emphasis has to be given on identified areas so as to make our future doctors more strong and resilient.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 1006-1022
Author(s):  
Indrajit Banerjee ◽  
Jared Robinson ◽  
Poornasha Mohabeer ◽  
Abhishek Kashyap ◽  
Ananya Shukla ◽  
...  

Background: The objectives of the study were to identify the psychological impact of lockdown on medical students due to COVID-19 and to discover the educational perplexities being faced by these students during the lockdown due to COVID-19. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Medical College (SSRMC), Mauritius. Questions were designed after extensive review of the literature, so that they were relevant to meet the objectives of the study. Results: Out of 700 undergraduate medical students, 663 students participated in the study, this equates to a substantial response rate of 95%. Due to the pandemic 348 (52.5 %) of the students were stationed in their hometown and the remaining 315 (47.5 %) were stationed in Mauritius. 464(70%) of the students suffered from the psychological impact of lockdown whereas 634(95.6%) of the students suffered from the educational impact of lockdown. Mauritian students suffered from a greater educational impact aOR4.236[1.606-11.173]. Psychological impact aOR 1.280 [0.917-1.789] and educational impact aOR 2.464 [1.076-5.647] was found more in students those who were at their hometown. Conclusion: Lockdown triggered both educational and psychological impact on medical students. On a psychological basis it was proven that the lockdown induced a feeling of guilt and had subsequent psychological impacts in certain students. The COVID-19 situation was simultaneously indicated to be a motivator in the majority of students; however, juxtaposed to this was the fact that various students felt as if they could not study at the same level that they are accustomed to due to the uncertainty of the situation.


Author(s):  
Nilank Saroha ◽  
Nitin Tomar ◽  
Varun Singh

Introduction: Self-medication is a prevalent problem worldwide. Especially, knowing the pattern among medical students is pertinent as they would be future physicians. It would be interesting to find out their self-medication practices in common ailment such as sore throat. Aim: To study the patterns of self-medication in sore throat among medical students. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional, online questionnaire based survey (via google forms) conducted in Muzaffarnagar Medical College in October 2020-November 2020. Total 450 students form 2nd, 3rd and final year (150 per batch) were enrolled. Out of these, only 213 consented and participated in the study (82 from 2nd year, 93 from 3rd year and 38 from final year). Results were expressed as counts (n) and percentages (%) statistical analysis was done wherever appropriate. Results: Out of 213 (113 females and 100 males), who participated in the survey, 190 (89.2%) suffered from sore throat in last 1 year and 111 (58.42%) of these self-medicated for it. Self-medication practices increased with professional year, highest being in final year (27 of 38, 71.05%). Most common class of drug used was antibiotic (consumed by n=95, 85.59%). It was followed by analgesic/antipyretic (n=82, 73.87%) and antihistaminic (n=75, 67.57%). Overall, azithromycin was the most favoured independent drug for sore throat (n=68, 71.58%). More than half of the students who preferred antibiotic other than azithromycin (n=14/27, 51.85%), discontinued it within 3 days. Majority of students (n=126, 59.15%) did not support self-medication whereas 87 students (40.85%) believed self-medication to be good. Almost 1/5th of the students (n=46, 21.60%) confirmed that they will self-medicate in future, 107(50.23%) were not sure and only 60 (28.17%) refused to practice self-medication. One fifth students (n=42, 19.72%) felt that self-medication is a part of self-care and 30 (14.08%) would recommend it to others also. Prevalence of self-medication in sore throat was in 111 students (58.42%). Conclusion: A rising trend with progression of professional year was observed. An alarming fact in the present study was the high use of antibiotic in sore throat by our undergraduates. The students need to understand the indications of the medicines they prescribe to themselves or others.


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