scholarly journals Impact of COVID-19 outbreak on the mental health status of undergraduate medical students in a COVID-19 treating medical college: a prospective longitudinal study

PeerJ ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. e10164
Author(s):  
Ilango Saraswathi ◽  
Jayakumar Saikarthik ◽  
K. Senthil Kumar ◽  
Kumar Madhan Srinivasan ◽  
M. Ardhanaari ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Sleep Quality ◽  
Undergraduate Medical Students ◽  
Prospective Longitudinal Study ◽  
Medical College ◽  
Prospective Longitudinal ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Self Administered Questionnaire

Background The COVID-19 pandemic is found to affect the mental health of the population. Undergraduate medical students are especially prone to mental health disorders and hence could be more vulnerable to the impact of the pandemic. Methods A prospective longitudinal study was conducted on 217 undergraduate medical students in a medical college at Chennai, India. Depression, anxiety, and stress levels were recorded using Depression Anxiety Stress Scale 21 Items (DASS21) before and during the COVID-19 outbreak in India in December 2019 and June 2020, respectively. In the follow-up survey, in addition to DASS21, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index to assess sleep quality and a self-administered questionnaire to assess the impact of COVID-19 related stressors were used. The self-administered questionnaire assessed the status of COVID-19 testing, interactions with COVID-19 patients, self-perceived levels of concerns and worries related to academics (COVID-19-AA (academic apprehensions)) and those pertaining to the self and family/friends (COVID-19-GA (general apprehensions)). Cross-sectional and longitudinal comparison of overall scores of depression, anxiety, and stress and scores stratified by gender, year of study, place of residence and monthly family income were performed. Predictors for depression, anxiety, and stress during COVID-19 were investigated using adjusted binary logistic regression analysis and results were expressed as adjusted odds ratio with 95% confidence interval (CI). A P value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results The average scores of depression, anxiety, and stress during the baseline survey were 7.55 ± 7.86, 4.6 ± 6.19 and 7.31 ± 7.34 with the prevalence (95% Cl) of 33.2% [27–39.9%], 21.2% [16–27.2%] and 20.7% [15.5–26.7%]; in follow-up survey, the mean scores were 8.16 ± 8.9, 6.11 ± 7.13 and 9.31 ± 8.18 with the prevalence being 35.5% [29.1–42.2%], 33.2% [27–39.9%] and 24.9% [19.3–31.2%] for depression, anxiety, and stress respectively. There was a significant increase in both the prevalence and levels of anxiety and stress (P < 0.001), with depression remaining unchanged during COVID-19, irrespective of gender, year of study, place of residence and family’s monthly income. Poor sleep quality, higher levels of baseline depression, anxiety, and stress, higher COVID-19-GA, COVID-19 patients in family/friends and direct interactions with COVID-19 patients were found to be significant predictors of negative mental health in undergraduate medical students. COVID-19-AA was not significantly associated with depression, anxiety, and stress. Conclusion The COVID-19 pandemic appears to negatively affect the mental health of the undergraduate medical students with the prevalence and levels of anxiety and stress being increased, and depression symptoms remaining unaltered. Addressing and mitigating the negative effect of COVID-19 on the mental health of this population is crucial.

Factors Predicating Loss to Follow-Up With Rescreening in Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Programs

2019 ◽  
Vol 100 (2) ◽  
pp. 213-223 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wendy Zeitlin ◽  
Charles Auerbach ◽  
Susan Mason ◽  
Lynn Spivak ◽  
Andrew Erdman
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Maternal Depression ◽  
Hospital Discharge ◽  
The United States ◽  
Prospective Longitudinal Study ◽  
Loss To Follow Up ◽  
Two Factors ◽  
Prospective Longitudinal ◽  
The Impact

Most infants born in the United States are screened for hearing loss prior to hospital discharge in Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) programs; however, many infants who do not pass their screening do not return for recommended rescreening and are considered lost to follow-up (LTF). This research addresses this by examining factors related to LTF at the point of rescreening. A prospective longitudinal study tracked 166 families whose newborns were referred for additional testing upon hospital discharge. Analysis identified two factors related to being LTF: parents’ perceptions of hearing loss as having the potential to impact their child’s future and maternal depression; however, social support moderated the impact of maternal depression. Specific implications for working with families is discussed.

scholarly journals Impact of new MBBS curriculum on the 1st year students and burden on teaching faculty: Are we making the balance?

2021 ◽  
Vol 64 ◽  
pp. S59-S61
Author(s):  
Naveen Kotur ◽  
M. R. Anitha ◽  
Nanda Sappandi ◽  
Niranjan Murthy ◽  
Shilpashree Madhava Kunjathur ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Medical Students ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Medical Council ◽  
Undergraduate Medical Students ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Medical College ◽  
Research Activities ◽  
Teaching Faculty ◽  
Time Utilization ◽  
The Impact

Objectives: The Medical Council of India has introduced competency based medical education (CBME) for all the undergraduate medical students across the country. We conducted this study to assess the impact of new curriculum on students’ performance and the differential time utilization of the teaching faculty. Materials and Methods: It is a cross-sectional study conducted at ESIC Medical College and PGIMSR, Bengaluru during January to March 2020. The college has an intake of 100 under-graduate students for an academic year. The sources of data included internal marks of the students and a semi-structured questionnaire for teaching faculty. Results: The mean (range) marks obtained by the students of 2018-19 and 2019-20 batch were found to be (a) theory: 48.75 (7 to 83) and 50.71 (10 to 78) (b) practical’s: 64.88 (38 to 90) and 69.70 (30 to 93). The man hours per week-faculty for different teaching activities during 2018-19 and 2019-20 were as follows: (a) theory teaching: 6 (16%) (b) practical teaching: 12 (32%) (c) research activities: 6 (16%) (d) planning activities: 8 (21%) (e) administrative activities: 6 (16%). Conclusion: The newer MBBS curriculum is found to be promising for the medical students but it is taking a huge toll on the teaching faculty. Measures to promote research and faculty strength in the existing medical colleges should be prioritized by policy makers.

scholarly journals Gender Differences in the Effect of Medical Humanities Program on Medical Students' Empathy: A Prospective Longitudinal Study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michal Lwow ◽  
Laura Canetti ◽  
Mordechai Muszkat
Keyword(s):  
Gender Differences ◽  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Medical Humanities ◽  
Prospective Longitudinal Study ◽  
Student Version ◽  
Admission System ◽  
Prospective Longitudinal ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Humanities Curriculum

Abstract Objective: Previous studies have suggested that Medical students' empathy declines during medical school, especially during the clinical studies. The aim of this study was to examine. changes in medical students' empathy during their first clinical experience, and to determine the impact of gender and humanities curriculum on empathy changes. Methods: In this prospective longitudinal study, 262 4th year students from three consecutive classes were assessed. Empathy was assessed before and at 4th-year-end, using the Jefferson Scale of Physician Empathy-Student Version (JSPE-S). The three classes differed in humanities curriculum [limited Medical Humanities (MH(lim)) vs. extended Medical Humanities (MH(ext))], and in admission system [Personal Interview (PI) vs. multiple mini interviews (MMI)]. Results: Overall, there was a small but significant decrease in JSPE-S during the fourth year (114.40±11.32 vs. 112.75±14.19, p= 0.034). Among men there was a statistically significant decline in JSPE-S during the fourth year, and the MH(ext) (but not the MH(lim)) was associated with the decline (t(35) = 2.38, p = 0.023). Women students showed no decline in empathy during the fourth-year of studies, regardless of type of humanities program. In addition, women who participated in MH(ext) had a higher JSPE-S scores during the 4th -year as compared to women who participated in MH(lim). Conclusion: Pre-clinical humanities program was associated with a decline in empathy among men medical students during the fourth-year of medical studies. Gender differences in response to medical humanities programs require further study.

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