Coping Strategies among First and Third Year Medical Students in a Malaysian Public University

Background: Medical students lead a stressful life and therefore the coping strategy is very important for them to alleviate the stress. The objective of this study was to explore the coping strategy among the first year and third year medical students and also to identify any significant difference between genders and study-years. Materials & methods: This cross-sectional study involved first and third year medical students of University Kebangsaan Malaysia of session 2013/2014. Coping strategy was explored using the ‘Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations’ (CISS) which consist of 48-items where 16 under task-oriented, 16 under emotional-oriented and 16 under avoidance-oriented coping. A five-point Likert’ scale ranging from ‘1=not at all’ to ‘5=very much’ was used to rate the items. Results: Task oriented coping was found the most common strategy among all students while emotion oriented was the least. First year students scored significantly higher than third year showing their best effort to adapt a new environment with insignificant difference between genders. Conclusions: Task-oriented coping strategy of the students is a good sign of problem solving skills. Though majority of the students adapt this method of coping, still there are other methods in practice. Medical school should focus for growing awareness about the positive coping methods in response to stress. This is necessary for the long term benefit of the students as well for better service to the nation. J MEDICINE JUL 2019; 20 (1) : 5-11

Download Full-text

Substance Use among Medical Students in Kathmandu Valley

Journal of Nepal Medical Association ◽

10.31729/jnma.26 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 50 (180) ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

P Khanal ◽

R H Ghimire ◽

B Gautam ◽

SK Dhungana ◽

P Parajuli ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Substance Use ◽

Medical Students ◽

Premature Mortality ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

First Year ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

First Year Students ◽

Medical College ◽

Keywords Alcohol ◽

Significant Difference

Introduction: Substance use including tobacco and alcohol is the most important cause of preventable morbidity, disability, and premature mortality. The study aims to specify the prevalence and the pattern of use of different substance. Methods: A cross sectional study was performed amongst first year and final year students in four medical colleges in Kathmandu using self administered anonymous questionnaire.Data collectedfrom 446 students were analyzed. Results: Prevalence of substance use was found to be 60.3% among the medical students. Alcohol (57.6%) was the substance most prevalently used followed by tobacco (27.58%) and cannabis (12.8%). Mean age of first exposure was 17.94 (Confidence interval: 17.91-17.97). There was significant difference in the useof tobacco and cannabis amongst final year students than first year students. Male and female differed significantly in use of every substance except for benzodiazepine. Medical college, college and school were place of first exposure in 17.26%, 15.92% and 13.23% of the cases respectively. Family history was associated with substance use in medical students and was statistically significant (P<0.0001).Experimentation was the major reason for the use of most of the substances. Conclusions: Substance use is prevalent in male medical students of both first and final year. Hence steps should be initiated early in school, college and medical college to prevent substance use. Keywords: alcohol, medical students, substance use, tobacco.

Download Full-text

A study on awareness of health effects of tobacco consumption among medical students and impact of modular training

International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health ◽

10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20183598 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 5 (9) ◽

pp. 4077

Author(s):

Sajjan Madappady ◽

Hemant Kumar ◽

S. Jayaram ◽

Krutarth Brahmbhatt ◽

Manjula Anil ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Medical Students ◽

Tobacco Consumption ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

First Year ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

First Year Students ◽

Medical College ◽

Specific Effects ◽

Quit Smoking ◽

Second Year

Background: Tobacco kills more than seven million people each year. In India tobacco kills nearly one million people each year and many of these deaths occur among people who are very young. Studies indicate that approximately 70% of all tobacco users would like to quit smoking and tobacco use.Methods: A non-randomized, cross sectional study was conducted in a Medical College in Mangaluru (Karnataka) which included medical students from first year to third year. A module developed by “Quit Tobacco International” was used for the purpose of training and counselling the selected medical students, focusing on the specific effects of tobacco, depicting simulated case scenarios.Results: A total of 404 medical students were included in the study. It was observed that 15.9% males and 5.3% females among first year students, 21.0% males and 5.3% females among second year students and 24.6% males and 9.2% females among third year students had smoked at some point in their life while the among current users, the prevalence of smoking was found to be much higher i.e. 8.7% and 2.6% among first year students, 9.9% and 3.5% among second year students; while it as highest among third year students i.e. 14% and 4.6%; among boys and girls respectively.Conclusions: The study brings out the need for inclusion of structured teaching and training of our medical students on harmful effects of tobacco use and its cessation techniques.

Download Full-text

Assessment of knowledge, attitudes and practices about antibiotic resistance among medical students in India

10.1101/546713 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Manoj Kumar Gupta ◽

Chirag Vohra ◽

Pankaja Raghav

Keyword(s):

Antibiotic Resistance ◽

Medical Students ◽

Sampling Technique ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Study Data ◽

Conclusive Evidence ◽

First Year ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

First Year Students ◽

Attitudes And Practices

AbstractBackgroundTo reduce the magnitude of antimicrobial resistance, there is a need to change the knowledge and behavior of future prescribers regarding use and prescription of antibiotics. This can be ensured through the appropriate training of next generation doctors and medical students. But, before planning or strengthening any teaching or training program for any group, it is required to have a conclusive evidence about knowledge, attitude and practices of that group. With this background this study was conducted to assess the knowledge, attitudes and the practices of medical students in India with respect to antibiotic resistance and usageMethodsIt was a cross-sectional study which was done online through google forms. A semi-structured questionnaire containing a five point Likert scale was used for the data collection. The questionnaire was sent to medical students across India by sharing link through contacts of Medical Students Association of India. Respondent-driven sampling technique was also adopted for the study. Data was analyzed using SPSS v.25 and Microsoft Excel 2016.ResultsThe overall mean score of awareness for the students was 4.36 + 0.39. As compared to first year students, mean score of awareness was significantly higher among students of all the years. A significantly better awareness was also observed among pre final year students as compared to other years. Variable practices have been observed regarding use of antibiotics among medical students.ConclusionThe awareness level of medical students regarding antibiotics and its resistance was quite satisfactory. As far as attitude and practices are concerned, there is a significant need for improvements.

Download Full-text

Maintenance of empathy levels among first and final year medical students: a cross sectional study

F1000Research ◽

10.12688/f1000research.2-157.v1 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 2 ◽

pp. 157 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Areeb Sohail Bangash ◽

Nisreen Feroz Ali ◽

Abdul Haseeb Shehzad ◽

Sobia Haqqi

Keyword(s):

Medical Students ◽

Medical Curriculum ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

First Year ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Medical College ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Empathy Quotient ◽

Medical University

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.

Download Full-text

Study to find out reasons for opting medical profession and regret after joining MBBS course among first year students of a medical college in Telangana

International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health ◽

10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20180983 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 5 (4) ◽

pp. 1392 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Kishore Y. Jothula ◽

Praveena Ganapa ◽

Sreeharshika D. ◽

Navya K. Naidu ◽

Abhishek P.

Keyword(s):

Medical Students ◽

Medical Profession ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Considerable Proportion ◽

First Year ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

First Year Students ◽

Medical College ◽

Self Interest ◽

First Year Medical Students

Background: Medical profession is one of the most highly rated professions among the students due to the fact that it offers prospects of a financially as well as a socially satisfying career. It was observed that many students in India prefer a career in medicine because of parental pressure. It has been consistently reported that a considerable proportion of medical students regret their career choice. Considering all these aspects the current study aimed at knowing the factors influencing to take up medical profession, interest towards different modes of teaching, reasons for least attention during the class and regret after choosing medicine as career.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 150 first year medical students with a pre-tested, semi structured questionnaire. Data collected was analysed using SPSS software.Results: The mean age of the subjects was 17.94±0.82 and majority were females (72%). Majority (82.6%) students opted MBBS out of self-interest. To earn respect in the society (83.87%) was the most common motivational factor to opt MBBS. 39.33% of the subjects was having regret feeling for choosing medical profession.Conclusions: Self-interest was the major reason for opting MBBS. Parent’s pressure was also observed as one of the reasons for opting MBBS. Almost one third of the students were having the feeling of regret for opting medical profession. Special attention should be paid towards these students.

Download Full-text

Health Behavior Among Medical Student at Universitas Padjadjaran

Jurnal Pendidikan Kedokteran Indonesia The Indonesian Journal of Medical Education ◽

10.22146/jpki.25222 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 3 (1) ◽

pp. 72

Author(s):

Nur Afifah ◽

Sri Yusnita Irda Sari ◽

Miftahurachman Miftahurachman

Keyword(s):

Medical Students ◽

Physical Exercise ◽

Emotional Stress ◽

Smoking Behavior ◽

First Year ◽

Dietary Habit ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

First Year Students ◽

Healthy Behavior ◽

Significant Difference

Background: Healthy behavior is defined as personal behavior to maintain and improve their health. This includes physical exercise, dietary habit, sleep pattern, stress management, and non smoking behavior, which may greatly contributes to human health. Healthy behavior is essential for medical students as they are becoming future doctors who should advise patients toward healthy lifestyle. This study was conducted to compare healthy behavior between first- and fifth-year medical students.Method: A cross-sectional study was done over 150 medical students of Faculty of Medicine Universitas Padjadjaran (75 first-year students and 75 fifth-year students) between October to November 2013. Data was collected by filling the questionnaire. A scoring mechanism designed to compare healthy behavior between those groups.Results: 75 first and five-year medical students were enrolled in each group. Smoking behavior was more frequent among the fifth-year compared to the first-year students (p=0.013). There were no significant differences in physical exercise (p=0.594), dietary habit (p=0.166) and sleep (p=0.504) between the groups. First year students were more likely to experience mental and emotional stress (p=0.021) than the five-year students. However, there was no significant difference in overall healthy behavior between first-year and fifth-year medical students (p=0.519).Conclusion: Overall healthy behavior is similar between first- and fifth-year medical students. However, in terms of specific behavior, the first-year students tend to be less able to manage mental and emotional stress, whereas smoking is more likely among five-year medical students. Effective intervention needs to be designed to improve healthy behavior among medical students.

Download Full-text

Assessment of the Knowledge Regarding Diabetes Mellitus in Medical Students of Nepal

Journal of Universal College of Medical Sciences ◽

10.3126/jucms.v8i02.34246 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 (02) ◽

pp. 20-24

Author(s):

Bishal Joshi ◽

Buddhi Raj Pokharel ◽

Sanjit Kumar Kar ◽

Narayan Bahadur Mahotra ◽

Laxmi Shrestha ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Diabetes Mellitus ◽

Medical Students ◽

Knowledge Score ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Basic Knowledge ◽

Good Knowledge ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

First Year Students ◽

Adequate Knowledge ◽

Significant Difference

INTRODUCTION Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disorder with a very high prevalence. Adequate knowledge about diabetes mellitus is essential for medical students as they are future frontline warriors for its management. In the present study, we have attempted to assess the knowledge of medical students related to various aspects of DM. MATERIAL AND METHODS In this cross-sectional study, 445 medical students studying in the Universal College of Medical Sciences (UCMS), Bhairahawa, Nepal were included. A total of 20 self-designed questionnaires regarding DM were used as a study tool. Each question was allocated a score of one making 20 the highest possible score. The students who scored 13 (65%) or more were regarded as having good knowledge, and those scoring below 13 were considered as having poor knowledge related to DM. Statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 16 was used for data analysis. RESULTS Preclinical students were 309 (69.4%) and 136 (30.6%) clinical students. The mean knowledge score of the total participants were 13.54 ±3.68. The clinical students (16.23 ±2.26) were found to have better knowledge about DM than the preclinical students (12.36 ±3.56). Year wise evaluation showed that, on average, all except first-year students had good knowledge regarding DM, with the final year students having highest mean score (18.80 ±2.29). No significant difference in the knowledge was found between MBBS and BDS students. CONCLUSION The majority of the medical students had good basic knowledge regarding DM. Clinical students had significantly higher knowledge in comparison to preclinical students.

Download Full-text

Attitude of the first year medical students towards medicine as career: Motivations and apprehensions of being a doctor

Healthcare in Low-resource Settings ◽

10.4081/hls.2021.9710 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Saurabh Sharma ◽

Pawan Parashar ◽

Chandra Mohan ◽

Alka Singh ◽

Sartaj Ahmad

Keyword(s):

Medical Students ◽

Role Models ◽

Family Background ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

North India ◽

First Year ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

First Year Students ◽

Validated Questionnaire ◽

First Year Medical Students

The choice of a career as a doctor is a complex personal decision influenced by a multitude of factors. These include family background, role models, media, and personal experiences. The present study was done with the objectives to know the reasons for first-year medical students for joining MBBS and their apprehensions. A cross-sectional study carried out among first-year students of batch 2018, 2019, and 2020 of a Medical College of North India. The data was collected within 10 days of admission in MBBS. A total of 278 students were given pre-designed and pre-validated questionnaire after informed consent. Out of multiple reasons for being doctor respect in society was the largest, i.e. 83%, while 72% joined because of high earning by the doctor. More than 80% had a professional image of the doctor as a calm, helping and well-groomed person, while 60% thought doctors don’t listen properly, and 57% had a perception that doctors are not much concerned about the problems of patient. Sixtyeight percent (68%) thought media doesn’t portray a good image of doctors. According to students outrage in the community and lack of trust for doctors were the major reasons for violence against doctors. Munnabhai MBBS, Anand and Patch Adams, Sanjeevani and House MD were the movies and series motivated most students to be a doctor. Respect in society was the prime motivator to be a doctor among students still they feel media doesn’t justify the image of doctors. Movies and television series can be used to keep the students high in morale and excitement.

Download Full-text

Anxiety Level and Risk Factors in Medical Students

JUXTA: Jurnal Ilmiah Mahasiswa Kedokteran Universitas Airlangga ◽

10.20473/juxta.v11i22020.79-82 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

pp. 79

Author(s):

Arisyna Arisyna ◽

Florentina Sustini ◽

Nalini Muhdi

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Medical Students ◽

Rating Scale ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Anxiety Level ◽

First Year ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

First Year Students ◽

Stress Vulnerability ◽

Hamilton Rating Scale

Introduction: Medical students are more susceptible to anxiety than non-medical students. This study aimed to describe the anxiety level and its risk factors among the first, third, and fifth year medical students in Universitas Airlangga.Methods: We conducted cross-sectional study involving 195 medical students by consecutive sampling. The inclusion criteria in this study were all first, third, and fifth year medical students who were willing to participate in the study. The data was recorded using questionnaire of anxiety risk factors, Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety, and Miller and Smith Stress Vulnerability Scale. All data then was processed and analyzed descriptively.Results: From 195 students, 57 male (29.2%) and 138 female (70.8%) students participated, consisted of 63 first year, 68 third year, and 64 fifth year students. Anxiety mostly occurred in fifth year students (20.3%), followed by first year students (19%), and third year students (11.8%). Anxiety mostly occured in male (24.6%), at the age of 17 (33.3%), susceptible to stress (75%), dissatisfied with physical condition (29.2%), had chronic diseases (26.4%), on middle birth order (34.6%), had frequent conflict with parents in almost every month (50%), lived in dorm (20%), had no close friends (33.3%), perceived that health was not important (100%), orphaned (18.8%), low parental income (35%), overburdened with examination (26.3%), and dissatisfied with the examination criteria (26.5%).Conclusion: Fifth year medical students had the highest frequency of anxiety, while third year students had the lowest frequency. Nevertheless, based on the age, anxiety mostly occurred at the age of 17. These conditions were caused by some risk factors.

Download Full-text

Prevalence of Self-medication among MBBS students of a Medical College in Kathmandu

Journal of Nepal Medical Association ◽

10.31729/jnma.4840 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 58 (222) ◽

Author(s):

Anjan Khadka ◽

Kumud Kumar Kafle

Keyword(s):

Medical Students ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

First Year ◽

Common Source ◽

Self Medication ◽

Medical Problems ◽

Time Saving ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

First Year Students ◽

Medical College

Introduction: Self-medication refers to self-prescription which includes diagnosing and treating one’s own illness and prescribing for one’s self. Though appropriate self-medication relieves acute symptoms, is time saving and economical, it should not be advocated because of more risks than benefits. Self-medication practices were found to vary in medical students of Nepal and India. This study was aimed to determine the prevalence of self-medication among medical students. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 76 MBBS students. The study involved the administration of the research questionnaire including demographic information, practice of self-medication, type of illness, factors influencing self-medication, commonly self- prescribed drugs, sources and strategies to reduce such practices. The data were analyzed using Graph pad prism version 6. Results: The prevalence of self-medication was 58 (76.6%), more common among first year students. The common illness found was headache and common drug self-prescribed was analgesic-antipyretic. The most common source of obtaining medicines for all three year medical students was pharmacy. Students were also prescribing medicines to family members, friends and juniors. More than half of the students 52 (68.4%) reported that self-medication practices should be encouraged. Conclusions: Self-medication had been widely practiced among medical students. Self-medication can relieve medical problems but also involve the risks of adverse drug reactions, resistance and masking of underlying diseases. Medical students should be given enough exposure for better understanding of rational prescribing to minimize self-medication. The further study on practice of self-medication is needed on various health professionals and even in general community.

Download Full-text