PMH19 - Prevalence of Anxiety Symptoms and its Correlates Among Medical Students in China: A National Survey in 33 Universities

Abstract

To examine the prevalence of anxiety symptoms and its correlates among medical students in China. We conducted a multicenter cross-sectional study among medical students from 33 universities in China in 2013-2014. They were interviewed using a questionnaire covering demographics, previous life experience, student characteristics, current life events in the past four weeks before survey, and Zung Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS). Anxiety symptoms were defined as have a SAS score of or over 50. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were done to identify potential correlates for the prevalence of anxiety symptoms. Among 9010 undergraduate medical students (20.7±1.6 years [mean ± standard deviation]; 37.9% male), 13.4% had anxiety symptoms. Father’s poor education background (adjusted odds ratio,1.34; 95% confidence interval, 1.10-1.64 for primary school or below versus college or above) was associated with higher prevalence of anxiety symptoms among medical students. Students who retook college entrance (1.23;1.02-1.45) or majored in non-clinical/dentistry science such as pharmacy, preclinical science,medical technology,and medical laboratory science (1.35; 1.17-1.56) were more likely to have anxiety symptoms. Habitual smoking (2.13;1.55-2.93) and alcohol drinking (5.83;3.81-8.93), and hospitalization or medication for one week or more (1.70;1.41-2.04) in last four weeks also predisposed students to higher risk of anxiety symptoms. Our results indicated that anxiety symptoms are highly prevalent among Chinese medical students. Future targeted prevention and intervention strategies might be implemented to tackle this issue based on potential correlates.