Anxiety In Medical Students Research Articles

Knowledge, attitude and anxiety of medical students about the current COVID-19 outbreak in Turkey

Introduction: The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitude, and behavior of medical students about the COVID-19 and the effect of the outbreak on the students' anxiety levels.Methods: The cross-sectional study was carried out between 07-14 April, with the online questionnaire forms applied to the medical students. A questionnaire forms were sent to one of every two students in the faculty using the systematic sampling method. A total of 530 volunteers were included in the study. The data was collected through a self-administered questionnaire of the socio-demographic characteristics, opinions about the epidemic, knowledge, and attitude of medical students regarding COVID-19. Anxiety levels of the participants were measured with the State-Trait anxiety inventory.Results: A total of 530 medical students had a mean score of knowledge and attitude of 7.83±1.27 and 45.18±5.12, respectively. Participants demonstrated good knowledge and a positive attitude towards COVID-19. Clinical period students had a higher level of knowledge (p<0.001) and positive attitude (p=0.025) compared to preclinical students. While the knowledge score was higher in men (p = 0.033), the attitude score was higher in women (p <0.001). There was a negative correlation between attitude scores and state (p=0.003) and trait anxiety scores (p<0.001).Conclusion: Medical students had sufficient knowledge and attitude towards COVID-19. Anxiety caused by the outbreak may have negative effects on the positive attitudes of the participants.

Correlation between Academic Performance and Anxiety in Medical Students of Majmaah University - KSA.

To study the prevalence of anxiety and its correlation with the academic performance among medical students.. The analytical cross-sectional study was conducted over six months from March 2018 to August 2018, at the male and female campuses of the College of Medicine, Majmaah University, Majmaah, Saudi Arabia, and comprised medical students of either gender. Data on anxiety was collected using a selfreporting questionnaire that included the Beck Anxiety Inventory. Academic performance was taken as a measurable record from the cumulative grade point average. Data was analysed using SPSS 24. Of the 247 subjects, 170(68.8%) were males. Anxiety was found in 97(39.3%) of the students. The level of anxiety was significantly higher among females compared to males (p=0.001), among those in the final year (p=0.002), and in those with low academic grades (p=0.016). Anxiety was found to be common among medical students and it was associated with female gender, low grades and advanced year of studies.

Pattern of sleep quality and depression, stress and anxiety in medical students: A cross-sectional comparison study over spans of medical years

Pattern of sleep quality and depression, stress and anxiety in medical students: A cross-sectional comparison study over spans of medical years

Impact of Background Music on Medical Student Anxiety and Performance During Anatomical Dissections: A Cluster Randomized Interventional Trial.

Anatomical dissection on cadavers can be a source of anxiety for medical students. Studies in other stressful settings have shown a reduction in anxiety when there is background music. The objective of this study was to determine if music can have an impact on student anxiety, student satisfaction, and student performance in dissection room. This cluster randomized interventional trial included 187second-year medical students. The intervention was standardized background music, selected based on the literature, with a tempo of between 60 and 80bpm. Six balanced clusters were randomized (1:1) to music or no music during dissection sessions. The main assessment criterion was a validated self-evaluation scale score for anxiety, the State Trait Anxiety Inventory. Student satisfaction was measured using a visual analog scale and dissection performance was evaluated by an examination. The outcomes were analyzed with mixed models adjusted on group effect, chronic anxiety, and confounding factors. A significant (58%) relative decrease in acute anxiety, odds ratio 0.423 [0.160; 0.710] was found for the music intervention group. Music also had a positive impact on performance with students in the intervention group attaining higher grades than those in the control group (0.42/10 higher, P=0.0016). The study also showed a nonsignificant increase in satisfaction with 0.37 extra points (P=0.137) in the intervention group. Background music had a significant impact on anxiety in the dissection room and on technical and theoretical performance in the subsequent anatomy examination. This music intervention could be extended to other stressful work environments.

Effect of auricular acupuncture on exam anxiety in first-year medical students

Exam anxiety is a commonly seen problem among medical students. Auricular acupuncture has been shown to have an anxiety-reducing effect, however, data on exam anxiety are limited. Research in dental and preoperative anxiety has indicated that anxiety level could be reduced by using ear acupoints on the non-dominant side. Therefore, this study aims to determine whether needling at acupoints on the non-dominant side can reduce exam anxiety in medical students. This is a prospective observational study on 32 first-year students at The Faculty of Traditional Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City. Eligible students received auricular acupuncture on the non-dominant side at the master cerebral, tranquilizer and relaxation points. Levels of anxiety were measured using a visual analogue scale before and after the intervention as well as before the exam. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, heart rate, exam performance and adverse events occurring during the study were also collected. Exam anxiety level and heart rate decreased 30 minutes after auricular acupuncture (p<0.05). Before the exam, exam anxiety level and heart rate increased significantly compared to after the intervention but still lower than the baseline (p<0.05). The exam anxiety level with heart rate at each time point did not differ significantly in gender and trait anxiety levels (p>0.05). No adverse events from auricular acupuncture were observed. Auricular acupuncture at the master cerebral, tranquilizer and relaxation points on the non-dominant side is effective in reducing exam anxiety in first-year medical students.

A systematic review of depression and anxiety in medical students in China

BackgroundMedical students in China face severe depression and anxiety because of their difficult circumstances, such as the long length of schooling, academic pressure, and the stress of clinical practice. Although there have been many empirical studies about depression or anxiety in medical students in China, no previous studies have conducted a related systematic review about this topic in English. This analysis can convey the general findings from China to other areas of the world.MethodsA systematic review and meta-analysis of depression or anxiety in medical students and related determinants were conducted. Three Chinese and three English databases were searched for the review, with no restrictions on language. Articles published between January 1, 2000 and April 1, 2018 were included.ResultsTwenty-one articles investigating a total of 35,160 individual Chinese medical students were included in this review. The prevalence of depression ranged from 13.10 to 76.21% with a mean of 32.74%, and the prevalence of anxiety ranged from 8.54 to 88.30% with a mean of 27.22%. Based on the meta-analysis, gender, grade level, residence, satisfaction with current major and monthly household income per capita were significantly associated with depression. Grade level and satisfaction with current major were significantly associated with anxiety. Other risk factors were identified and described using a narrative approach.ConclusionThe mean prevalence of depression was 32.74% amongst medical students in China, whereas the mean prevalence of anxiety was 27.22%. The determinants of depression and anxiety included individual factors, social and economic factors, and environmental factors. More measures should be taken towards at-risk medical students based on the identified risk factors.

The USMLE Step 1 Pass/Fail Reporting Proposal: The APDR Position

The National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) and the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) has convened a conference of "key stakeholders" on March 11-12, 2019 to consider reporting the results of the USMLE Step 1 as pass/fail. While the original purpose of the USMLE Step 1 was to provide an objective basis for medical licensing, the score is increasingly used in residency applicant screening and selection because it is an objective, nationally recognized metric allowing comparison across medical schools in and outside the United States. Excessive reliance on the Step 1 score in the matching process has led to "Step 1 Culture" that drives medical schools to "teach to the test," increases medical student anxiety, and disadvantages minorities that have been shown to score lower on the USMLE Step 1 examination. The outsize role of the USMLE Step 1 score in resident selection is due to lack of standardization in medical school transcripts, grade inflation, and the lack of class standing in many summative assessments. Furthermore, the numeric score allows initial Electronic Residency Application Service filtering, commonly used by programs to limit the number of residency applications to review. The Association of Program Directors in Radiology (APDR) is concerned that pass/fail reporting of the USMLE Step 1 score would take away an objective measure of medical student's knowledge and the incentive to acquire as much of it as possible. Although the APDR is not in favor of the Step 1 exam being used as a screening tool, in the absence of an equal or better metric for applicant comparison the APDR opposes the change in Step 1 reporting from the numeric score to pass/fail.

The role of progress testing in tackling medical student anxiety.

The role of progress testing in tackling medical student anxiety.

The effect of acupuncture on exam anxiety in medical students: a randomized crossover study

ObjectiveAcupuncture (AC) has been used for treatment of chronic and pre- operative anxiety. However, no study has evaluated the effect of AC on exam anxiety in undergraduate students. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether AC reduces pre-examination anxiety compared to placebo (PL) and non- intervention (NI). MethodsTwenty students from the first terms of physiotherapy and dentistry courses were randomized to receive AC, PL and NI in a crossover manner and subsequently completed three anatomy exams with an interval of 1 month between exams/interventions. AC was performed on acupoints PC-6 (Neiguan), HT-7 (Shenmen), LV-3 (Taichong) and Yintang one day prior to each exam. The PL was performed outside the meridians and the needles were inserted superficially without obtaining De Qi. Levels of anxiety were measured using a visual analogue scale before and after each intervention as well as before each exam. ResultsAnxiety levels were reduced after AC and PL intervention compared to NI on the day before the exam, as well as on the day of the exam. ConclusionThese results suggest that AC can be used as an anxiolytic method in students under conditions of situational stress.

Maladaptive Perfectionism, Impostorism, and Cognitive Distortions: Threats to the Mental Health of Pre-clinical Medical Students.

While medical student wellness has been a subject of recent study and discussion, current efforts may fail to address possible underlying, harmful cognitive distortions regarding academic performance. The authors sought to examine dysfunctional thoughts (maladaptive perfectionism, impostor phenomenon) and negative feelings (shame, embarrassment, inadequacy) that may contribute to poor mental health in pre-clinical medical students. A survey was administered to first-year medical students at Saint Louis University that included assessments for maladaptive perfectionism, impostor phenomenon, depression, and anxiety, as well as questions about feelings of shame, embarrassment, inadequacy, comparison, and self-worth. A total of 169 students (93%) participated. Students who met criteria for maladaptive perfectionism were significantly more likely to report greater feelings of shame/embarrassment and inadequacy (P < 0.001) than their peers who did not; similar associations were observed in students who reported high/intense levels of impostor phenomenon (P < 0.001). Furthermore, students who reported feelings of shame/embarrassment or inadequacy were significantly more likely to report moderate/severe levels of depression symptoms (P < 0.001) and moderate/high levels of anxiety symptoms (P = 0.001) relative to students who did not report these negative feelings. These preliminary data support a model for how negative thoughts may lead to negative emotions, and depression and anxiety in medical students. The authors propose strategies for preventive interventions in medical school beginning in orientation. Further research is needed to develop targeted interventions to promote student mental health through reduction of cognitive distortions and negative feelings of shame, embarrassment, and inadequacy.

Correlation between Academic Self-Efficacy and Learning Anxiety in Medical Students Studying at Qom Branch of Islamic Azad University, 2017, (Iran)

Correlation between Academic Self-Efficacy and Learning Anxiety in Medical Students Studying at Qom Branch of Islamic Azad University, 2017, (Iran)

Association of Biological Rhythm Impairment with Levels of Anxiety, Depression, Dream Anxiety and Other Sociodemographic Correlates in Turkish Medical Students

Purpose In this study, we investigate association of biological rhythm impairment with levels of anxiety, depression and dream anxiety and other sociodemographic correlates of Baskent University medical students. Methods 193 students who accepted to participate in the study from Baskent University School of Medicine Grades 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, were enrolled to our study. Participants were administered the Beck Anxiety Inventory, Beck Depression Inventory, Dream Anxiety Scale, Biological Rhythm Scale and Sociodemographic Data Form. Results Participants’ biological rhythm (impairment) scores were found to be significantly associated with the Dream Anxiety Scale, Beck Depression Inventory and Beck Anxiety Inventory scores. Female students were found to have higher biological rhythm, activity rhythm, sleep rhythm, anxiety and dream anxiety scores, which means that they have higher anxiety levels and more impaired biological rhythms. Students who drowse in the lectures were found to have higher sleep, activity, social and dominant rhythm patterns with higher levels of dream anxiety and Beck Depression Inventory scores as well. Conclusions Biological rhythm impairment is related to dream anxiety, anxiety and increased depression levels. Smoking, alcohol consumption and having pet are factors negatively effecting biorhythms and increasing dream anxiety in medical students. Drowsing during the lectures is a common complaint of medical students and can be a sign of irregularity in the biological rhythms and psychiatric disorders like anxiety and depression as well. Encouraging medical students for having more regular biorhythms can help them ensuring their own mental health.

Auricular Acupuncture vs. Progressive Muscle Relaxation and vs. no Intervention for Exam Anxiety in Medical Students - A Randomized Controlled Trial

Auricular Acupuncture vs. Progressive Muscle Relaxation and vs. no Intervention for Exam Anxiety in Medical Students - A Randomized Controlled Trial

Psychological assessment in 355 Chinese college students with androgenetic alopecia.

Although the association of the psychological problems and androgenetic alopecia (AGA) gained the increasing attention, the psychosocial state in college students with AGA remains unknown. We recruited a total number of 355 college students with AGA from 18 universities in Southern China for interview. The Symptom Checklist-90-R (SCL-90-R) survey was used to assess the psychological state of these students. There were significant differences in somatization, obsessive–compulsive, interpersonal sensitivity, depression, phobic anxiety, psychoticism, and global severity index (GSI) between college students with AGA and the controls. Moreover, regarding the impact of specialty, scores for the interpersonal sensitivity, depression, and phobic anxiety in medical students and art students with AGA were significantly higher than other professions. In addition, obsessive–compulsive and GSI in art students with AGA were significantly higher compared with other professions. These findings suggested that the therapeutic approach for the psychological problems should be considered in the tailored treatment for AGA in the college students.

Medical Hypnosis - A Feasible and Effective Treatment Option for Test Anxiety in Medical Students

Medical Hypnosis - A Feasible and Effective Treatment Option for Test Anxiety in Medical Students

A Survey Focusing on Lucid Dreaming, Metacognition, and Dream Anxiety in Medical Students.

The aim of this study was to examine the level of lucidity and its relation with metacognitive beliefs and dream anxiety in medical students. Nine hundred sixteen medical students were enrolled in the study. The participants were assessed with the Lucidity and Consciousness in Dreams Scale (LuCiD), the Metacognition Questionnaire-30 (MCQ-30), and the Van Dream Anxiety Scale (VDAS). There was no significant difference in mean total lucidity score between females and males, but there were some significant sex differences in subscales of lucidity, and control was significantly higher in male students, while realism, thought, and dissociation were significantly higher in female students. In addition, females had more dream anxiety levels, higher total MCQ-30 scores, and higher cognitive confidence and uncontrollability scores according to Metacognition Questionnaire-30 than males. We also found that the mean lucidity level was positively correlated with the mean total metacognition score and the mean total dream anxiety level. Our results suggest that female medical students tend to have more realistic dreams (p=0.018), have more logical thoughts during dreaming (p=0.011), and have a more dissociative experience during dreaming (p=0.028), while male medical students have more controlled dream events (p=0.002). There seem to be differences according to lucidity features between sexes, and the relationship between subdomains of lucidity and metacognition might lead to new therapeutic approaches to several psychiatric disorders such as anxiety disorders.

How frequent is nocturia in medical students?

Objective. Nocturia is the most common lower urinary tract symptom and its prevalence increases with age. The frequency of nocturia and related bother are not widely investigated in young adults in the literature. In this study we aimed to investigate frequency, bothersome and relation of nocturia with anxiety in medical students. Methods. A questionnaire consisting of 19 items were sent to medical students via social media by using Survey Monkey TM software. Questions include demographic characteristics, fluid intake habits, voiding symptoms, and bother score related to nocturia. Also, Beck Anxiety Inventory was used to measure level of anxiety. Results. A total of 221 students replied the survey. The mean age was 20.7 ± 2.10. Forty-seven (21.3%) students had nocturia. The rate of nocturia was 27.4% and 13.4% in women and men, respectively ( p =0.011). The frequency of nocturia per night was 80.2%, 17.3% and 2.2% (1, 2, 3 times; respectively). While the frequency of nocturia was found to be related with bother scores there were no relation of gender with degree of bother. Conclusion. Nocturia is frequent in medical students, especially in women. Commonly, nocturia do not cause bother in young adults with one episode and it is not related with anxiety.

Auricular acupuncture vs. progressive muscle relaxation and no intervention for exam anxiety in medical students – A randomized controlled trial with non-randomized condition

Auricular acupuncture vs. progressive muscle relaxation and no intervention for exam anxiety in medical students – A randomized controlled trial with non-randomized condition

Depression, stress and anxiety in medical students: A cross-sectional comparison between students from different semesters

To compare the prevalence of anxiety, depression, and stress in medical students from all semesters of a Brazilian medical school and assess their respective associated factors. A cross-sectional study of students from the twelve semesters of a Brazilian medical school was carried out. Students filled out a questionnaire including sociodemographics, religiosity (DUREL - Duke Religion Index), and mental health (DASS-21 - Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale). The students were compared for mental health variables (Chi-squared/ANOVA). Linear regression models were employed to assess factors associated with DASS-21 scores. 761 (75.4%) students answered the questionnaire; 34.6% reported depressive symptomatology, 37.2% showed anxiety symptoms, and 47.1% stress symptoms. Significant differences were found for: anxiety - ANOVA: [F = 2.536, p=0.004] between first and tenth (p=0.048) and first and eleventh (p=0.025) semesters; depression - ANOVA: [F = 2.410, p=0.006] between first and second semesters (p=0.045); and stress - ANOVA: [F = 2.968, p=0.001] between seventh and twelfth (p=0.044), tenth and twelfth (p=0.011), and eleventh and twelfth (p=0.001) semesters. The following factors were associated with (a) stress: female gender, anxiety, and depression; (b) depression: female gender, intrinsic religiosity, anxiety, and stress; and (c) anxiety: course semester, depression, and stress. Our findings revealed high levels of depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms in medical students, with marked differences among course semesters. Gender and religiosity appeared to influence the mental health of the medical students.

Auricular Acupuncture for Exam Anxiety in Medical Students-A Randomized Crossover Investigation.

Auricular acupuncture (AA) is effective in the treatment of preoperative anxiety. The aim was to investigate whether AA can reduce exam anxiety as compared to placebo and no intervention. Forty-four medical students were randomized to receive AA, placebo, or no intervention in a crossover manner and subsequently completed three comparable oral anatomy exams with an interval of 1 month between the exams/interventions. AA was applied using indwelling fixed needles bilaterally at points MA-IC1, MA-TF1, MA-SC, MA-AT1 and MA-TG one day prior to each exam. Placebo needles were used as control. Levels of anxiety were measured using a visual analogue scale before and after each intervention as well as before each exam. Additional measures included the State-Trait-Anxiety Inventory, duration of sleep at night, blood pressure, heart rate and the extent of participant blinding. All included participants finished the study. Anxiety levels were reduced after AA and placebo intervention compared to baseline and the no intervention condition (p < 0.003). AA was better at reducing anxiety than placebo in the evening before the exam (p = 0.018). Participants were able to distinguish between AA and placebo intervention. Both AA and placebo interventions reduced exam anxiety in medical students. The superiority of AA over placebo may be due to insufficient blinding of participants.