Female Medical Students Research Articles

Predictors of self-reported research self-efficacy and perception of research amongst medical students in the United Kingdom: a national cross-sectional survey.

There has been a decline in the number of academic clinicians in the UK, and there are ethnic/gender disparities in the academic workforce. Higher research self-efficacy (RSE) and a positive perception of research (PoR) amongst students are associated with a higher motivation to engage in academic medicine. Hence, this study aimed to determine the factors that influence RSE and PoR amongst UK medical students. This is a multicentre cross-sectional survey of medical students in 36 UK medical schools in the 2020/21 academic year. Multiple linear regression was used to investigate the association between students' demographics and RSE/PoR. P-values less than a Bonferroni-corrected significance level of .05/28=.0018 were considered statistically significant. In total, 1573 individuals participated from 36 medical schools. There were no ethnic differences in PoR or RSE scores. Although there were no gender differences in PoR, female students had lower RSE scores than male students (adjusted β=-1.75; 95% CI: -2.62, -0.89). Research experience before medical school (adjusted β=3.02; 95% CI: 2.11, 3.93), being in the clinical training phase (adjusted β=1.99; 95% CI: 1.09, 2.90), and completing a degree before medical school (adjusted β=3.66; 95% CI: 2.23, 5.09) were associated with higher RSE. There were no associations between the predictor variables and PoR. Female students had lower self-reported RSE scores. Future studies should investigate the role of targeted research mentorship in improving RSE amongst female medical students.

Religiosity, stress, and depressive symptoms among nursing and medical students during the middle stage of the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study in Morocco.

Recent studies on nursing and medical students showed a higher prevalence of depression and stress than the general population. Religiosity and spirituality are common in Muslim countries and are usually used as a means of coping strategy for psychological and mental disorders. Our objective was to evaluate the association between religious actions, depressive symptoms, and stress among students of nursing education lasting 3 years and students from the first 3 years of medical education lasting 7 years. The study was conducted at Ibn Zohr University of Agadir, Morocco. A sample of different stages of nursing and medical students was recruited. Religiosity was assessed by Muslim Belief into Action (M.BIAC) scale. The depressive symptoms and stress were, respectively, assessed by the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) and Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). Four hundred and thirteen students participated in this study. Our results showed a high prevalence of depressive symptoms (62.2%) and stress (66.8%). The depression scores were higher in the following subsample categories: students in the first 2 years of studies, female medical students, and nursing students with significant differences. The recorded religiosity was greater among students without depression compared to students with depression (p < 0.001). In the multivariate regression, the BIAC score demonstrated religiosity as neither a risk factor nor a protective factor of depression. Religiosity constitutes a protective factor of depression and stress among nursing and medical students. This should improve the student's ability to cope with stressful situations during their training. Prospective studies are needed to further investigate this association and how religiosity improves mental health. This would contribute to improved academic performance and wellbeing among medical and nursing students.

Profiling the knowledge of female medical/para-medical students, and expertise of health care professionals on female genital schistosomiasis in Anambra, South Eastern Nigeria.

Female genital schistosomiasis (FGS) is a largely neglected tropical disease (NTD), with little or no attention in the primary health care unit. Towards building momentum to address this challenge, we investigated the perception of medical and para-medical students about FGS, as well as the expertise of health care professionals in Anambra State, Nigeria. We conducted a cross-sectional survey among 587 female medical and para-medical university students (MPMS), and 65 health care professionals (HCPs) saddled with the responsibility of delivering care for schistosomiasis-affected persons. Pretested questionnaires were administered to document the awareness and knowledge about the disease. In addition, the expertise of HCPs vis-à-vis suspicion of FGS and management of FGS patients during routine health care service were documented. Data were subjected to descriptive, chi-square tests and regression analysis in R software. Over half of the students recruited; 54.2% for schistosomiasis and 58.1% for FGS, were not aware of the disease. Knowledge about schistosomiasis was associated with student's year of study, with those in 2nd (OR: 1.66, 95% CI: 1.0, 2.7), 4th (OR: 1.97, 95% CI: 1.2, 3.2), and 6th (OR: 5.05, 95% CI: 1.2, 34.2) year having higher likelihoods of been more informed about schistosomiasis. For HCPs, we observed a contrastingly high knowledge about schistosomiasis (96.9%), but low knowledge about FGS (61.9%). Knowledge for both schistosomiasis and FGS was not associated with year of practice and expertise (95% OR included 1, p > 0.05). A considerable proportion (>40%) of the HCPs never suspected schistosomiasis during routine clinical diagnosis of patients who presented probable FGS symptoms (p < 0.05). Similarly, only 20% were certain about the use of praziquantel for treating FGS, and about 35% were uncertain of the eligibility criteria and dosage regimens. Commodities for managing FGS were also largely unavailable in about 39% of the health facilities where the HCPs operate. Awareness and knowledge about FGS among MPMS and HCPs were poor in Anambra, Nigeria. It is therefore important to invest in innovative methods of building capacity of MPMS and HCPs, with complementary provision of necessary diagnostics to perform colposcopy, as well as competence to diagnose pathognomonic lesions using diagnostic atlas or Artificial Intelligence (AI).

The Effect of an Online Teaching Platform on Self-concept and Self-regulation of Medical Students at Kashan University of Medical Sciences

Background: Online language learning has recently gained a reputation in educational research, holding specifically true in English for specific purposes (ESP) courses. However, ESP online learning has not been sufficiently examined in particular disciplines such as medicine. Objectives: This study investigated the effects of teaching English medical vocabulary through a virtual learning platform (Adobe Connect) on Iranian medical students’ learner factors, including their self-regulation and self-concept. Methods: This quasi-experimental study was conducted on 60 female and male medical students learning English for Medicine at Kashan University of Medical Sciences in 2021. An Oxford Placement Test (OPT) was administered to ensure the sample’s homogeneity. Then, the participants were categorized into Adobe Connect (experimental) and conventional face-to-face (control) groups. Data were collected using the Academic Self-concept Questionnaire (ASCQ) and the Self-regulation Questionnaire (SRQ). An ANCOVA test was run to compare the possible role of the two instructional methods on medical students’ self-regulation and self-concept. Results: Adobe Connect, as the experimental group, had a higher median score than the control group regarding the self-regulation posttest (P = 0.000). Therefore, using Adobe Connect virtual platform significantly improved the self-regulation of ESP medical students. Additionally, the results revealed that the experimental participants outperformed the control group regarding their self-concept (P = 0.000). Conclusions: Based on the results, the online platform positively affected self-regulation and self-concept among medical students.

Evaluation of Problem-Based Learning in College of Medicine: An Indicator of Quality Education in a Hybrid Curriculum

Background. A culture of quality is believed to drive institutes toward excellence through feedback. Multiple surveys at educational institute help to get a deeper insight into institutional performance and curricular execution. Since problem-based learning (PBL) is an important component of the hybrid curriculum, thus stakeholders’ opinion on PBL satisfaction is worth discussing. This study intended to determine the trends in students’ satisfaction with PBL over the years and to report on the importance of curricular changes that can be incorporated based on students’ needs. Methods. This is a descriptive cross-sectional study that was conducted at the College of Medicine (COM), King Saud Bin Abdul Aziz University for Health Sciences (KSAU-HS), Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. All male and female medical students, using consecutive sampling technique, were included in the study. End-of-course evaluation reports for the academic years ranging from 2013 to 2019 on PBL satisfaction, with a response rate of ≥60%, were included in this study. Results. Overall, students at the COM, Jeddah were satisfied with PBL. A declining but satisfactory trend followed by a sharp rise in satisfaction was observed in this study. Pearson correlation reported a positive relationship between PBL problems, tutors, and PBL sessions (r = 0.82, p &lt; 0.001 ). Conclusions. Transition from three sessions to two sessions per PBL case can be considered as an effective and efficient way of curricular execution. We found that the tutor, the case, and session dynamics were positively correlated after the incorporation of the feedback. Thus, highlighting the facts that inculcating a culture of responding to feedback can lead to innovations in medical teaching and can help to improve the curricular execution and students’ satisfaction.

Toileting Behaviors and Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Among Female Physicians and Medical Students.

A greater understanding of the relationship between toileting behaviors and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) has the potential to generate awareness and improvement of overall bladder health in specific populations. The aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence and correlation between maladaptive toileting behaviors and LUTS among female medical trainees and attending physicians. We surveyed female medical students, residents, fellows, and attending physicians at an academic hospital, capturing demographics, voiding behaviors, LUTS, and fluid intake using the Bristol Female Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Short Form, the Toileting Behavior-Women's Elimination Behaviors, and the Beverage Intake Questionnaire. A total of 146 medical students and physicians participated in the study. Eighty-three percent reported at least 1 LUTS, most commonly storage symptoms, particularly incontinence (30%, stress urinary incontinence > urgency urinary incontinence). Altered toileting behaviors included "worrying about public toilet cleanliness" (82%), "emptying the bladder before leaving home" (81%), "delaying emptying their bladder when busy" (87%), and "waiting until they could not hold urine any longer" (57%). Total Toileting Behavior-Women's Elimination Behaviors scores were significantly associated with total Bristol Female Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms scores (β = 0.27; 95% CI, 0.12-0.42; P<0.01). This remained true after adjusting for total fluid intake in medical students (β = 0.41, P<0.01) and resident physicians (β = 0.28, P = 0.03) but was not correlated among attending physicians (β = -0.07, P = 0.77). Female physicians and medical students experience a high prevalence of LUTS. Many engage in maladaptive toileting behaviors, which highly correlate with LUTS (especially among medical students and residents) and may lead to impaired bladder health.

O uso de anticoncepcionais orais por estudantes de medicina: um ponto de vista com enfoque na saúde cardiovascular

Introduction: Women of all age groups use oral contraceptives (OCP) to prevent unintended pregnancy. The relationship between the use of oral contraceptives (OC) and the risk for cardiovascular (CV) events, such as venous thromboembolism (VTE), acute myocardial infarction (AMI), and stroke, has been studied for many years. Some adverse reactions are reported by some women, such as headache and dizziness. Objective: To analyze the prevalence of OC use among medical students, as well as the prevalence of self-reported symptoms common to cardiovascular disease (CVD), lipemia, and the frequency of gynecological and cardiological evaluations. Methods: The present study was constructed from an anonymous CV risk factor (RF) self-report questionnaire answered by female medical students during June and November 2020. Data were tabulated in Excel and statistics performed by the Minitab program. Results: About 75% of the women interviewed take or have taken OACs, and 70% of the total of 217 interviewees have some CV symptoms. Conclusion: Cardiovascular symptoms were reported among the female students who use OC, and the correlation between the time of use and the symptoms was considered statistically significant.

Assessment of depression, anxiety, stress, and cognitive parameters in medical students: A pilot study

Background: As there is an increase in mental health issues among medical students, it is mandatory to assess their mental health status. In our earlier studies, we observed differences in the scores of depression, anxiety, and stress between male and female students. Aims and Objectives: The present study was undertaken to assess depression, anxiety, stress, and cognitive parameters in male and female medical students. Materials and Methods: A total of 100 medical students’ males (n=50) and females (n=50) were part of the study after obtaining voluntary, written informed consent. The required sample size for the study was 97 with a 95% of confidence level, 10% of margin of error, and 50% of the population proportion. This means 97 or more measurements/surveys are needed to have a confidence level of 95% that the real value is within ±10% of the measured/surveyed value. Depression, anxiety, and stress were assessed using the DASS 21 questionnaire. Spatial and verbal memory test was administered to assess the cognitive functions. Results: The depression scores were significantly higher (P&lt;0.0001) in females when compared with males. Anxiety scores were significantly higher in females when compared with males (P&lt;0.0001). Stress scores were significantly higher (P&lt;0.0001) in females when compared with males. Spatial (P&lt;0.0001) and verbal (P=0.0141) memory was significantly higher in females when compared with males. Conclusion: There were significantly higher levels of depression, anxiety, and stress scores in female students when compared with males. Further, spatial and verbal memory was also higher in females. There is a strong need for further detailed studies in this area and for adopting adequate management methods to manage negative psychological emotions in females.

Associated factors with Premenstrual syndrome and Premenstrual dysphoric disorder among female medical students: A cross-sectional study.

The study aimed to determine potential risk factors associated with Premenstrual Syndrome and Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder. Three hundred two female student participants who were 18-45 years old completed a questionnaire including demographic characteristics, lifestyle factors, and a Vietnamese Premenstrual Syndrome Screening Tool. We then followed up participants during at least two menstrual cycles using the Daily Record of Severity of Problems. The Premenstrual Syndrome and Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder diagnosis was established using The Carolina Premenstrual Assessment Scoring System, based on the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. According to the Carolina Premenstrual Assessment Scoring System, 35 out of 302 students (11.6%; 95%CI: 8.2-15.7%) met the diagnosis of PMS (31 students) or PMDD (4 students). We found that age at menarche (PR = 0.77, 95%CI: 0.63-0.96), having negative Rh blood type (PR = 4.43, 95%CI: 1.95 to 10.08), being moderately depressed or higher (PR = 2.81, 95%CI: 1.24 to 6.36), and consuming caffeine more than three times per week were statistically associated with having Premenstrual Syndrome or Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder after adjusting for other variables. The prominent risk factors for Premenstrual Syndrome and Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder were negative Rhesus blood type, menarche age, caffeine consumption, and self-reported depression.

Gender Disparity in Medical Field

Approximate total population of Pakistan in 2021 was 225 million, out of which 48.6% are female and 51.4% are males. But it is not reflected in Medical college’s admissions and almost 60 to 70% women opt for medical profession and it is creating disparity. Medical profession has become less lucrative for males just because of a lack of job opportunities available after doing MBBS and relatively there are more opportunities after commerce, accounts, engineering and social sciences. Therefore, boys are attracted towards these subjects instead. Females are more attracted towards medical profession because after an MBBS degree a girl can find more and good marriage proposals1. Secondly, she could be a helping hand for her husband after marriage in this era of inflation. Gender disparity is an ancient problem and way back in Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) era females born were buried alive but Islam gave huge respect and priority to females. Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) in his preaching directed us to render due respect to females. Unfortunately we are not following it in true letter and spirit. Female medical professionals often encounter a disparity in Pakistani healthcare system during their service. A recent study in a tertiary care hospital in Pakistan identified issues of gender bias faced by female surgeons/doctors throughout their careers in the form of lack of respect, barriers to recruitment and promotion, and differences in training in the operating room and other occasions. The majority of female surgeons/physicians believe that these experiences have a significant impact on their career choices, job satisfaction, and access to higher status. Female doctors are underestimated as leaders. For example, in one of the surgical units of a renowned institutes there was the only one female professor was working, even though 34.4% of her residents were female. In Pakistan, only 30% of Women Doctors continue their career2. Women are considered stay-at-home moms and are responsible for all household chores, while men are assigned the role of the sole breadwinner of the family. Ambitious and career-oriented women in Pakistan are usually discouraged and such women are not socialized. This traditional, overprotective mentality is also prevalent in the healthcare field3. Even the country's top residential programs fail to provide working mothers with basic facilities such as day care, maternity leave, maternity care during early birth period. As a result of these social pressures and the rigors of the workplace make it tough for females to balance their personal and professional lives, with most leaving their careers to meet society's definition of the “ideal housewife”. Moreover, if a woman who chooses to continue her professional career, these submissive roles affect her efficiency in the workplace and, as a result her professional skill are not superior to those of her peers3. Increasing the proportion of women in leadership positions is one of the most important steps in closing the gender gap in medical profession. Not only does this create a healthier and better working environment for other female doctors, but these female leaders also become role models for young female doctors and medical students. This encourages female physicians to pursue competitive medical fields such as general surgery, neurosurgery, and cardiac surgery and become more career-oriented4. In summary, large, evidence-based studies are essential to identify and recognize the challenges that women doctors face throughout their careers and in reaching top positions so that each issue can be adequately addressed. . There is a need to introduce relatively flexible staffing policies for health professionals, especially for working mothers, to address work-life balance issues. National organizations and organizations should match female medical students with mentors and icons who are not only a source of inspiration but also provide networking opportunities. Females are usually reluctant to report incidents of gender inequality because of stigmatization. Awareness-raising strategies are needed to put in place appropriate SOPs for a work environment that is more conducive and approachable for women health workers and provides equal leadership opportunities for all. Government of Pakistan is now making positive efforts to curb the gender inequality and one of the practical step is the creation of female ombudsman office to tackle workplace harassment cases. Other legislative measures are also in national assembly and senate of Pakistan. How to Cite This: Tipu SA. Gender Disparity in Medical Field. Isra Med J. 2022; 14(3): 93-94. DOI: https://doi.org/10.55282/imj.ed61

Impact of lifestyle and dietary habits on menstrual cycle among female medical students

Background and Aim: Menstrual patterns are influenced by a wide variety of factors which can be responsible for menstrual disorders, among them are lifestyle and dietary habits play a major role. So, the present study is effect of life style and dietary habits on the menstrual cycle among female medical college students and suggest them to adopt healthy life style and dietary habits accordingly. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 200 students of all semesters in a tertiary care institute using simple random sampling method. A pre-tested and pre-designed, semi-structured and self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. Data collected was analysed using SPSS trail version 24 and chi-square test was used wherever applicable. Results: It was found that 29.1% had irregular menstrual cycle. 79.4% respondents took sugary food for more than 3 days/week. 43% did not have sleep duration of more than 7 hours/day. 52% did not regularly exercises for more than 5 times/week. Conclusion: There was a significant association between consumption of junk food, physical activity, and sleep habits on menstrual cycle of the respondents. Regular exercise, more healthy food, good sleep, less stress is responsible to maintain a healthy regular menstrual cycle.

A 5-Year Update and Comparison of Factors Related to the Sex Diversity of Orthopaedic Residency Programs in the United States.

The American Medical Association Fellowship and Residency Electronic Interactive Database was used to identify all allopathic orthopaedic surgery residency programs during the 2021 to 2022 academic year. The number of female residents and interns; the number of female faculty, professors, and associate professors; and the number of women in leadership positions were compared with data from the academic year 2016 to 2017. Continuous data were analyzed with independent t-tests, and significance was set at p < 0.05. A total of 696 female residents (19.2%) were identified from 3,624 orthopaedic residents, an increase from 13.5% in 2016. Programs in the top quartile of female residents had 3 times the number of female residents per program when compared to other quartiles and almost double the number of female interns per program. Programs in the top quartile of female residents had a significantly greater number of female faculty per program than the lower quartiles; 5.76 vs. 4.18. Compared with 2016 to 2017, there were significant increases in female faculty per program from 2.77 to 4.54 along with female full professors from 0.274 to 0.694. These increases contribute to the overall growth in the number of women in leadership positions per program over the past 5 years to 1.01 from 0.35 (p < 0.001). In the past 5 years, the percentage of female residents has increased from 13.5% to 19.2%. Furthermore, women make up 22.1% of interns. Orthopaedic surgery residency programs with higher percentages of female faculty had higher numbers of female residents. By encouraging programs to promote female representation within leadership and residents, we may continue to see the gap in orthopaedic sex diversity close. III.

Extent and types of gender-based discrimination against female medical students and physicians at five university hospitals in Germany - results of an online survey.

There is a gap in research on gender-based discrimination (GBD) in medical education and practice in Germany. This study therefore examines the extent and forms of GBD among female medical students and physicians in Germany. Causes, consequences and possible interventions of GBD are discussed. Female medical students (n=235) and female physicians (n=157) from five university hospitals in northern Germany were asked about their personal experiences with GBD in an online survey on self-efficacy expectations and individual perceptions of the "glass ceiling effect" using an open-ended question regarding their own experiences with GBD. The answers were analyzed by content analysis using inductive category formation and relative category frequencies. From both interviewed groups, approximately 75% each reported having experienced GBD. Their experiences fell into five main categories: sexual harassment with subcategories of verbal and physical, discrimination based on existing/possible motherhood with subcategories of structural and verbal, direct preference for men, direct neglect of women, and derogatory treatment based on gender. The study contributes to filling the aforementioned research gap. At the hospitals studied, GBD is a common phenomenon among both female medical students and physicians, manifesting itself in multiple forms. Transferability of the results beyond the hospitals studied to all of Germany seems plausible. Much is known about the causes, consequences and effective countermeasures against GBD. Those responsible for training and employers in hospitals should fulfill their responsibility by implementing measures from the set of empirically evaluated interventions.

Prevalence, health-related quality, and management of premenstrual syndrome among female medical student

Background: Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a cyclic disorder characterized by behavioral, psychological, and physical symptoms that impacts women of reproductive age. The diagnosis requires one physical and one affective symptom. This study aimed to determine the prevalence, health-related quality, and management of PMS among female medical students. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among female medical students at Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University between March and April 2022. All female medical students, aged over 17 years, who studied at the College of Medicine, and who were free of psychological or gynecological disease were included in this study. A pre-designed, anonymous, electronic self-administered questionnaire was used consisting of 36 questions using socio-demographic, medical conditions, American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology criteria to diagnose PMS, and the SF-12 questionnaire to assess the impact of health on an individual&amp;apos;s everyday life and management of menstrual symptoms. Results: PMS was prevalent among 37% of medical students, the most frequent psychological symptoms were depression, crying spells, irritability, angry outbreaks, and anxiety. While the physiological symptoms were breast tenderness, food cravings, fatigue, bloating, and weight gain. PMS had an impact on the quality of life (QOL) as it decreased daily activities, study time, work productivity, concentration, participation, and exam performance. Over-the-counter drugs and complementary therapies were frequently used. Conclusion: PMS significantly influenced daily activities related to the QOL and homework. Further studies to investigate the effect on the QOL among female students in Saudi Arabia are recommended. The modification of risk factors should be considered a critical intervention point.

Effect of Heartfulness Meditation on Cortisol Levels and Vital Parameters in Healthy Female Medical StudentsA Prospective Longitudinal Study

Introduction: Medical education has been reported to be one of the most stressful academic curriculum worldwide, with a potential of negatively affecting the physical and mental health of medical students. Meditation is a self-produced relaxation technique which restores the mental peace by relieving emotional and physiological stress and is an accepted therapy to reduce stress. Aim: To study the effect of heartfulness meditation on cortisol levels and vital parameters in healthy female medical students. Materials and Methods: This study was a prospective longitudinal study conducted in the department of physiology at Sri Padmavathi Medical College for women, SVIMS, Andhra Pradesh, India. Sixty female medical students of age group 18 to 25 years were undergone heartfulness meditation training for a period of 6 months from September 2021 to February 2022 Baseline measurements of cortisol, heart rate, Respiratory Rate (RR) and Blood Pressure (BP) were taken at the beginning of the session and after 6 months of intervention program i.e., from September 2021 to February 2022. Later pre and postvalues were compared and analysed statistically by using paired sample t-test and the p-value &lt;0.05 or 5% was used as level of significance for comparison. For data analysis Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 19 was used. Results: The vital signs and cortisol levels in female medical students were significantly changed after practicing heartfulness meditation for six months. There was a significant decrease in Pulse Rate (PR) (p&lt;0.001), RR (p&lt;0.001), Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP) (p&lt;0.001) and Diastolic Blood Pressure (DBP) (p&lt;0.001) and cortisol levels (p&lt;0.001) after 6 months practice of heartfulness meditation. Conclusion: The study concluded that heartfulness meditation had a positive effect on sympathovagal balance and also it was effective in reducing stress levels in medical students.

Anxiety, Depression and Stress Among Female Medical Students During the Second Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic and their Association with Family Functioning, Coping and Personality

Background and Aims: This research examined anxiety, depression, and stress levels in female medical students during the second wave of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and the association between these variables and family functioning, coping, and personality factors. Materials and Methods: The cross-sectional online observational study was conducted using Google Forms. Anxiety, depression, and stress were assessed using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21), family functioning using Family Adaptability, Partnership, Growth, Affection, and Resolve, coping using Brief COPE, and personality using the Big Five Inventory 10-item version. Results: Out of 750 students, 500 thoroughly responded to the online survey. Based on the DASS-21 scores, 57.6% of participants had some stress, 63.4% had some anxiety, and 54.8% had some degree of depression. Anxiety, depression, and stress were highly correlated with each other. Stress, anxiety, and depression were weakly linked with problem-focused coping, moderately correlated with emotion-focused coping, and strongly correlated with avoidant coping. Better family functioning was associated with lesser self-reported stress, anxiety, and depression. Neuroticism was associated with higher anxiety, depression, and stress, while agreeableness and conscientiousness were with lower psychological distress. Conclusion: High level of psychological suffering was prevalent among medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Their anxiety, depression, and stress must be adequately managed.

A cross-sectional study to assess body image dissatisfaction among female undergraduate medical students in a government medical college in Bengaluru

Background: In today’s world, a young woman’s self-definition and sense of unique identity are strongly influenced by their body image, which is influenced by a variety of cultural, social, cognitive, affective, and biological aspects. In recent years, there has been a rise in the prevalence of body image dissatisfaction (BID) among young girls and reports of excessive concern about body image which can also be related to the increased use of social media. Aims and Objectives: The objective is estimating the pattern, prevalence, and factors associated with BID among female undergraduate medical students of a Government Medical College in Bengaluru. Materials and Methods: Among 168 female undergraduate medical students, a cross-sectional study was conducted to assess BID using the Stunkard Figure Rating Scale. Results: Underweight, overweight, and obesity were substantially related with BID, which was prevalent at 83.9%. There was a statistically significant association between BID and body mass index (P &lt; 0.005). Conclusion: There is a high degree of dissatisfaction regarding the body image among medical students. There is a great need to bring changes in their mindsets because they influence the future health of the society.

Assessment of mental health status in male and female medical students of 1st-year MBBS

Background: There is an increase in mental health issues throughout the globe. The major age group that was affected is young adults. Although from the outside, it appears that college life is very happy and enjoyable. However, the actual scenario is different. Aims and Objectives: The present study was undertaken to assess the mental health status of male and female medical students in the 1st year. Materials and Methods: A total of 150 male and female young adults, studying 1st-year MBBS, were part of the study after obtaining informed consent. Standard questionnaires were used to assess the mental health of the students. Results: Out of 150 students, 140 students responded to the study. Anxiety scores were significantly higher in females when compared to males (P &lt; 0.05). Insomnia was significantly higher in females when compared to males (P &lt; 0.01). Eating disorder scores were higher in females when compared to males (P &lt; 0.0001). Depression, anxiety, and stress scores were significantly higher in females when compared with males. Distress was significantly higher in females when compared to males (P &lt; 0.0001). Conclusion: The study results explain that female students’ mental health was in borderline and there is a strong need to counsel them and train them with coping methods. The study highlights a strong need for the future studies.

Menstrual Practices among Medical Students in a Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital in Central Kerala

Introduction: Menstruation is a part of women’s healthy well-being. The objective of this study was to assess themenstrual hygiene practises among female medical students in a tertiary care teaching hospital in Central Kerala.Methods: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted in 2021 among 225 female undergraduateMBBS students aged 18–25 years in a tertiary health care facility in Kerala. The data was collected using an expertvalidated semi-structured questionnaire after obtaining informed consent from the participants via Google Forms.The universal sampling technique was used, and the data was analysed with SPSS version 20.0.Results: The mean age of the study participants was 21.65 ± 1.34 years and 91.1% were from the APL socioeconomiccategory. 95.5% of participants were using disposable sanitary pads. The frequency of washing external genitaliaand changing sanitary products were adequate in 69.4% and 33.8% respectively. The common mode of disposal ofmenstrual products were burning(50.2%), incineration(34.7%) and discarded into general waste(8.9%). 66.7% werenot allowed to do religious activities during menstruation.Conclusion: Most of participants used disposable sanitary pads. The frequency of changing sanitary products andtheir disposal was found to be inadequate. Menstruation related myths were common among participants.

Comparative empathy in male and female medical students: A cross-sectional, online, and survey-based study

Background: Empathy is a capability of a person to observe a subject and recognize and briefly feels the subject’s emotional state based on visual and aural inputs. Empathy is an important quality for doctors as they are involved in patient care. Aims and Objectives: We aimed to assess the level of empathy in a sample of students studying MBBS and compare the empathy according to gender. Materials and Methods: This study was a cross-sectional observational study carried out by an online survey. Medical students of our college were invited to participate in this survey. We collected data from up to 50 males and 50 females for a comparative test. The eight-item form of the empathy quotient-8 was used to assess the level of empathy among students. Scores between male and female students were compared by unpaired t-test. Result: A total of 50 males and 50 females participated in this study. Their mean age was 20.12 ± 2.14 years. One-sample t-test showed that overall students have more than average level of empathy. The gender-wise comparison showed that there was no difference in empathy between male and female students. Conclusion: From this study, we can conclude that medical students have more than average level of empathy and there is no gender difference in the level of empathy. However, this was an experience from a single institution. Further studies may be conducted to ascertain the level and comparative level of empathy between males and females with a large sample taken from different Indian states.