Medical College Students Research Articles

Assessing AI literacy and attitudes among medical students: implications for integration into healthcare practice

PurposeThis study aims to assess AI literacy and attitudes among medical students and explore their implications for integrating AI into healthcare practice.Design/methodology/approachA quantitative research design was employed to comprehensively evaluate AI literacy and attitudes among 374 Lusaka Apex Medical University medical students. Data were collected from April 3, 2024, to April 30, 2024, using a closed-ended questionnaire. The questionnaire covered various aspects of AI literacy, perceived benefits of AI in healthcare, strategies for staying informed about AI, relevant AI applications for future practice, concerns related to AI algorithm training and AI-based chatbots in healthcare.FindingsThe study revealed varying levels of AI literacy among medical students with a basic understanding of AI principles. Perceptions regarding AI’s role in healthcare varied, with recognition of key benefits such as improved diagnosis accuracy and enhanced treatment planning. Students relied predominantly on online resources to stay informed about AI. Concerns included bias reinforcement, data privacy and over-reliance on technology.Originality/valueThis study contributes original insights into medical students' AI literacy and attitudes, highlighting the need for targeted educational interventions and ethical considerations in AI integration within medical education and practice.

The state of psychological and immunological indicators in graduate students of a medical university

Training future doctors for professional practice usually entails building awareness and embracing the significant responsibility inherent in the field. This, in turn, leads to significant psycho-emotional stress by the time of graduation from academic institution. With the aim of identifying the correlation between homeostatic system indicators, a comparative analysis was conducted to characterize the immunological and psychological parameters of final-year medical university students, contingent upon their respective training programs. The study involved sixth-year students of the Therapeutic and Preventive Faculty [TPF] (29 individuals) and the Military Training Center [MTC] (34 individuals) of Rostov State Medical University, a Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education. The exclusion criteria for all participants included the presence of chronic diseases and any infectious process of any origin within three months prior to the study. The groups were similar in terms of age (23.8±1.82 and 23.9±2.2 years, respectively), gender (all male), and corresponded to health group I. Psychological evaluation was conducted employing the Spielberger–Hanin Scale to gauge levels of personal and situational anxiety. The assessment of immunological status was carried out at the Scientific Research Institute of Clinical Immunology using standard methodological approaches. Registration cards for immunopathology analysis were used to characterize health status over the year. Analysis of the obtained data from psychological questionnaires revealed that students of the Therapeutic and Preventive Faculty, compared to their counterparts from the Military Training Center, demonstrated a higher degree of situational and, particularly, personal anxiety. Differences in the immune response system between the compared groups were identified with regards to indicators that characterize both adaptive and innate immunity. These differences were expressed in a more significant number of circulating regulatory T lymphocytes, a less pronounced lytic potential of effector cells, a greater number of TLR9+ monocytes with a decrease in the proportion of cells of the monocyte series carrying HLA-DR in medical students compared to their counterparts studying in the medical service officers’ program. Thus, the period of psychological preparation in a medical university for the commencement of professional activity varies based on the characteristics of the educational process and proves to be more effective for sixth-year students of MTC. Students from the TPF exhibit more pronounced psycho-emotional stress compared to their counterparts in military medical training, leading to evident signs of immune system dysregulation. It is imperative to develop strategies for timely detection of changes in both psychological and immunological adaptive capacities.

Comparison of chronotype and learning motivation in medical university students

BackgroundPeople differ in their preferred time for intellectual activities. Morningness-eveningness preferences describe the preferred time for performing daily activities and are determined by chronotype. Chronotype reflects circadian preference in humans and is divided into morning, intermediate, and evening types. Learning motivation is a key predictor of student success and may influence learning and study, academic performance, intention to continue medical research, and well-being. Helping students develop learning motivation may improve their educational achievement and health. There are opposing studies regarding chronotype and academic achievement. We hypothesized that chronotype affects the learning motivation of medical school students.MethodsWe used the reduced Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (rMEQ), and the Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire (MSLQ) for Russian, Polish, Japanese, and Australian students in the first and second years of medical university. A total of 540 medical students answered the questionnaires. The MSLQ contains six subscales: intrinsic goal orientation, extrinsic goal orientation, self-efficacy for learning and performance, control of learning beliefs, task value, and test anxiety.ResultsThe rMEQ was used to classify the students into three types, which were morning (26.7%), intermediate (60.5%), or evening chronotypes (12.7%) based on their scores. The learning motivation scores for the intrinsic and extrinsic goal orientations, task value, and self-efficacy were lower in evening chronotypes.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that the evening chronotype had a lower learning motivation than the morning chronotype. Evening-oriented students may need a more flexible schedule, and a shift of the most important courses in the university to the afternoon may help them to attain higher motivation for learning medicine.

Clinical manifestations of gastroesophageal reflux disease in medical university students

Clinical manifestations of gastroesophageal reflux disease in medical university students

Analysis of the impact of pre-professional education on the health of medical students

BACKGROUND: Education in a higher educational institution is critical for students due to the vulnerability of the young body and the exposure of young men and women to the impact of adverse factors that contribute to health disorders. The solution to the problem of the observed deterioration of the health of students of medical higher educational institutions is currently very acute, since this problem is directly related to the health of future health workers and determines the future of the country. AIM: To assess the health status of students of the Institute of Clinical Medicine named after N.V. Sklifosovsky of Sechenov University on the example of graduates of the Resource Center «Medical Sechenov Pre-University» of the Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University) in a comparative aspect with graduates of other educational institutions. METHODS: A single-stage selective comparative study of the morbidity rate of students of the N.V. Sklifosovsky Institute of Clinical Medicine of Sechenov University was carried out. The data of the registration form «No 025/у» 1–6-year students for the period from 2018 to 2024 (n=2229, including 414 graduates of the Pre-University) were used. Data analysis was performed using Pearson's χ2 test with Yates correction. The significance level was set as p 0.05. Numerical data are presented with absolute and relative values. RESULTS: It was shown that the number of students assigned to the first and second health groups among Pre-University graduates was higher overall, and the number of those assigned to the third health group was lower compared to their peers who were not Pre-University graduates (p 0.01). An increase in the overall morbidity of students by the sixth year was noted, but to a lesser extent among Pre-University graduates (p 0.001). All students have more frequent eye and apparatus diseases. The second and third places were occupied by diseases of the nervous system and diseases of the respiratory organs. Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue were less common. CONCLUSION: The lower morbidity rate among the graduates of the Pre-University is presumably due to the promotion of a healthy lifestyle and rejection of harmful habits during the pre-professional education phase. The data obtained show the need to strengthen work on the identification and prevention of factors of educational environment, reducing the effectiveness of medical and educational measures for the formation of health status of students at the stage of pre-specific education.

Linguistic discourse analysis of lexico-grammatical features of moves in the research abstracts of medical students in a Ghanaian university

Writing a quality research abstract is crucial for a scholarly report. An abstract should be information and lexically dense, formal, and have a professional tone. This requires precision, objectivity, logicality, technicality, and comprehensiveness. However, writing a good-quality research abstract is a hurdle for novice and inexperienced undergraduate students who study English as a Second Language (ESL), that is English language learners worldwide. This article interrogates the research abstracts written by undergraduate medical students who also studied English Language at the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) in Ho, Ghana. A qualitative-quantitative approach, guided by Hyland’s (2000, 2004) five-move model, was used to analyze the lexico-grammatical features in the rhetorical moves of the research abstracts written by these students. A corpus of 23 extracts representing a quota of sample tenses, hedges, boosters, and nominalization were analyzed. The data were coded manually and presented as frequency counts and percentages in tables and graphically. The results revealed that rhetorical moves in the research abstracts written by undergraduate medical students of UHAS in Ho, Ghana were replete with simple past, simple present, and perfect tenses, and lexico-grammatical devices such as hedges, boosters, and nominalization to a greater or lesser extent. The study concludes that the research abstracts written by undergraduate medical students of UHAS follow Hyland’s (2002, 2004) five rhetorical move model, and are constituted by specific lexico-grammatical features. The pedagogical implications are discussed, and suggestions for future research are provided.

Suicidal Ideation, Psychological Distress and Depression in Medical Students of Pakistan: Surviving or Thriving

<i>Background</i>: In recent years, psychological stress has lead to increase in suicide cases readily among medical students of many countries. This study aims determine the prevalence of psychological stress, major depressive disorder, and suicidal ideation in Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) students of a government setup medical university in Pakistan. <i>Methods</i>: The data was gathered using a valid questionnaire containing 10 items Kessler psychological distress scale. The scale consists of the severity of the psychological distress from well, mild, moderate, and severe. Physical health questionnaire 2(PHQ2) was used for identifying the students with major depressive illness. Suicidal ideation was assessed using item no. 9 from PHQ9 questionnaire. <i>Results</i>: The overall prevalence of suicidal ideation, distress and major depression among 353 students of MBBS was 22.9%, 63.1%, 27.8% respectively. The students with major depression and moderate/severe distress are more probable to think about suicide. Moreover, Students who choose medicine under the family influence are more likely to have suicidal ideation. Besides this, we found that particularly females experience higher psychological distress as compared to males. <i>Conclusion</i>: In the overall study, it is identified that suicidal ideation is strongly correlated to depression and distress. However, controlling these factors at an early stage can prevent the suicidal thoughts, which inevitably can reduce the suicide attempts not only in medical students but could also be valuable for students of different fields.

CORRELATION BETWEEN PSYCHOLOGICAL PARAMETERS SUCH AS DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, AND STRESS AND AFFECT SCORE AMONG MEDICAL STUDENTS

Objectives: In the modern era, internet use has turned out to be a significant arena for day-to-day life activities. Proper use of the internet is harmless, but misuse of this tool might lead to disruptions in psychological health and social relationships, yet available reports about the association between internet use and affect are inconsistent. Hence, the objective is to assess and correlate the psychological parameters with the affect score among medical college students using the depression anxiety stress scale (DASS)-21 questionnaire and positive and negative affect schedule (PANAS) scale. Methods: The present study was a cross-sectional study conducted on medical students in the age group of 17–22 years. 150 participants were recruited by random sampling. DASS-21 scale was used to assess depression, anxiety, and stress, consisting of 21 items designed to measure emotional states of depression, anxiety, and stress. PANAS is designed to assess individuals’ positive and negative moods. Results: Pearson’s correlation of these psychological parameters with affect scores had a significant negative correlation with the positive affect score (depression [p=0.003], anxiety [p=0.01], and stress [p<0.04]) and a significant positive correlation with negative affect score (depression [p<0.02], anxiety [p=0.0009], and stress [p=0.01]). Students should be closely monitored with regard to their use of the internet, and also, internet addiction and psychological behaviors can be reduced by providing early counseling and interventional therapy. Conclusion: Awareness about the harmful effects of excessive internet use should be provided so as to enhance the academic performance of students.

Artificial intelligence (AI) in Medicine: A cross-sectional study of undergraduate medical students’ knowledge, attitudes, and perceived importance of Artificial Intelligence.

Objective: To assess the knowledge and perceptions of AI among medical students in a public sector medical college of Punjab, Pakistan. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Period: January 2024 to March 2024. Methods: With sample size of 137 convenient sampling technique was used, questionnaire was generated and data was collected from 1st year to final year via online Google forms. Then, data analysis was done using IBM SPSS software version 26. Results: 137 students participated in the study. Majority of the students 123(89.8%) were aware of Artificial Intelligence and its fascinating tools; some out of them 57(41.6%) also knew about Machine Learning & Deep learning and their applications in medical field 87(63.5%). Some of them 44(33.6%) believed that AI will be a burden on medical practitioners but majority 107(78.1%) of the students are willing to work on AI. Conclusion: Many students knew much about AI and they had good perception regarding AI functioning in the medical field. They are keen to master the skills of AI and they are looking forward to utilize these tools in their medical studies as well as during healthcare practice.

Examining the Psychosocial Factors of Mental Health Well-being Among Medical University Students: Gender-based Analyses

The mental health of university students is a major concern due to the various stressors they face, including academic pressures, social dynamics, and personal development challenges. Previous studies have shown that gender differences significantly impact how students perceive and express psychological distress. This study aimed to identify these differences in the context of academic stress, social support, self-esteem, academic motivation, and family functioning, and their association with psychological distress. The study involved 2206 medical students in a cross-sectional study at a medical university in Ningxia, western China. The data analysis revealed significant gender differences in scores for academic stress, social support, and academic motivation. Academic stress, social support, and family functioning were found to be significantly associated with psychological distress for both genders. However, academic motivation was found to significantly influence psychological distress only among male students, while self-esteem had an impact on female students. These findings highlight the need for tailored mental health services in universities to address gender-specific needs, such as providing counseling services that focus on coping with academic stress and strengthening social and familial support networks to improve student well-being.

Moderating effect of sleep quality in the relationship between coping and distress among medical students.

The present study examined the moderating effects of sleep quality in the relationship between coping and distress among medical college students. Present study was conducted to ensure the mental health of medical students and to dig out the reasons behind their disturbed health which can directly impact their performance at work. The study utilized a cross-sectional survey and was distributed to students at various medical institutions in the Punjab province of Pakistan from October 2019 to June 2020. The sample comprised 369 participants (120 males; 32.5%). The survey included the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Kessler Scale of Psychological Distress (K10), Brief Cope Scale, and Wong and Law Emotional Intelligence Scale. The results showed there was a significant relationship between coping and distress. More specifically, adaptive coping and distress were negatively associated (r=-.24), and maladaptive coping and distress were positively associated (r=.46). Moreover, the present study found that poor sleep quality was a significant positive predictor of distress. Moderation analysis showed that sleep quality was a significant moderator in the relationship between adaptive coping and distress (ΔR2=.011, β=-.36, p<.01) as well as between maladaptive coping and distress (ΔR2=.021, β=-.17, p<.01). The study's findings clearly showed that sleep quality is a significant moderator in the relationship between coping (both adaptive and maladaptive) and distress among medical students.

The influence of perceived formative assessment on the learning autonomy of medical students: the chain mediating role of psychological empowerment and positive academic emotions.

Medical students' autonomous learning is a cornerstone of their educational journey. Formative assessment is defined as a process to enhance learning and improve academic performance, and the key to the effectiveness of formative assessment is the students' perceptions of it. The present study investigates the impacts of perceived formative assessment on the learning autonomy of medical students, explores the chain mediating role of psychological empowerment and positive academic emotions, and offers strategies for facilitating medical students' autonomous learning. A cross-sectional investigation was conducted using a convenience sampling method involving 713 medical students (mean age 19.72 ± 1.18 years; 207 male and 506 female students; the proportion of participants is 93.69%) in Shandong Second Medical University. Perceived formative assessment was performed using a self-designed questionnaire of Perceived Formative Evaluation for Medical Students, learning autonomy using the Autonomy in Learning Rating Scale for College Students, positive academic emotions using the General Academic Emotion Questionnaire for College Students, and psychological empowerment of medical students using the Chinese version of Psychological Empowerment Scale (PES). The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation, multiple regression, and mediation analysis using the SPSS26.0 program and PROCESS3.1. Perceived formative assessment significantly predicted learning autonomy (β = 0.06, p < 0.05). It also positively predicted psychological empowerment (β = 0.20, p < 0.001), and psychological empowerment positively predicted the learning autonomy of medical students (β = 0.36, p < 0.001). Psychological empowerment also positively predicted positive academic emotions (β = 0.64, p < 0.001), and positive academic emotions positively predicted learning autonomy (β = 0.44, p < 0.001). The direct effect value of perceived formative assessment on learning autonomy was 0.18, while the total indirect effect was 0.43. The mediation effect of psychological empowerment on the relationship between perceived formative assessment and learning autonomy was 0.22, and the chain mediation effect of psychological empowerment and positive academic emotions was 0.18, accounting for 30%, 70%, 36%, and 30% of the total effect, respectively. Perceived formative assessment directly enhances medical students' learning autonomy. This relationship is partially mediated by psychological empowerment and positive academic emotions. The results suggest that formative evaluation boosts psychological empowerment, which fosters positive academic emotions and further promotes learning autonomy.

Satisfaction, effectiveness, and interaction of online teaching of community course among medical students of Al-Qunfudhah college of Medicine, Saudi Arabia.

Satisfaction, effectiveness, and interaction of online teaching of community course among medical students of Al-Qunfudhah college of Medicine, Saudi Arabia.

Evaluation of depression and anxiety behaviors among medical field students in Umm Al-Qura University during Covid-19 outbreak, Saudi Arabia.

Evaluation of depression and anxiety behaviors among medical field students in Umm Al-Qura University during Covid-19 outbreak, Saudi Arabia.

The effectiveness of education based on problem solving approach on exam anxiety of medical students of Islamic Azad University, Tehran Medical Sciences Branch

The effectiveness of education based on problem solving approach on exam anxiety of medical students of Islamic Azad University, Tehran Medical Sciences Branch

Electronic cigarette use and consumption patterns in medical university students.

A major public health hazard is youth e-cigarette use. Although new, e-cigarette health hazards are becoming well-known in the literature. E-cigarette sale restrictions and laws differ globally. In this cross-sectional study, we studied medical university students' tobacco and e-cigarette use and characteristics in a country where sales and import of e-cigarettes are banned. The primary objective is to determine the prevalence of electronic cigarette use and understand consumption patterns among medical faculty students in this setting. The questionnaire was sent using a web-based student information system. Sociodemographic features, tobacco and e-cigarette use, consumption patterns, and e-cigarette risk perceptions were covered in 54 questions. The study comprised 1,054 students (48.7% male) aged 21.5 ± 2.6 years who completed the questionnaire. 37.7%, 20.9% and 23.6% have smoked cigarettes, e-cigarettes, or water pipes. Current cigarette smokers were 17.0%, e-cigarette users 4.0%, and water pipe smokers 4.5%. E-cigarette users were 52.3% dual smokers. The most common symptoms reported by e-cigarette users were cough (58.4%) and dyspnea (54.2%). Multivariable models showed that the male sex, greater monthly income, and a current smoker friend were independent risk factors for e-cigarette ever use, while the male sex, paternal current smoking, and close friends' current smoking status were risk factors for dual use among medical trainees. Many medical students who used electronic cigarettes underestimated nicotine's health hazards and harmful chemicals in e-cigarettes. Despite e-cigarette sales being prohibited in our country, 56.4% and 25.4% of e-cigarette users provided e-cigarettes from tobacco shops and through online sales, respectively. Medical university students use tobacco most often by smoking cigarettes. Despite medical university students being aware of the health hazards of e-cigarettes, the current use of electronic cigarettes is 4.0%. Male sex, greater monthly income, and having current smoker friends are independent risk factors for e-cigarette use, while paternal smoking is a risk factor for dual use among medical trainees. Although in the country, sales of e-cigarettes are banned, ever-use rates for e-cigarettes were remarkably high at 20.9%, and the ease of accessing e-cigarettes was striking.

The impact of instructor–learner interaction perceived by health and medical college students on class satisfaction and preference in an online class environment

The impact of instructor–learner interaction perceived by health and medical college students on class satisfaction and preference in an online class environment

Assessment of Quality of Sleep and Daytime Sleepiness in Medical Professionals and Students in a Medical College: A Descriptive Cross-Sectional Study

Introduction: Poor sleep quality is a global public health issue particularly more prevalent in medical professionals and students. Despite various health and occupational risks, research is still lacking regarding the quality of sleep and its irelated factors among medical professionals and students in our region. Therefore, our study aimed to estimate the prevalence of poor sleep quality in this population.Methods: This observational, cross-sectional study was conducted among medical professionals and students of Devdaha Medical College from December 2023 to June 2024 after ethical approval from the Institutional Review Board. Data regarding sleep quality and excessive daytime sleepiness were collected using the Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PQSI) and Epworth Sleepiness Scale with pre-made questionnaires in Google Forms.Results: Among 395 participants, 260 (65.83%) were in the age group 20-25 years and 200 (50.63%) were nursing students. The prevalence of poor sleep quality was 146 (36.96%; 95% CI: 32.19%-42.93%) and the global mean score of PSQI was calculated to be 5.12. Out of the total participants, 255 (64.55%) had excessive daytime sleepiness, 84 (21.26%) participants had one or more sleep problems out of which, snoring was in 40 (10.12%) participants.Conclusions: About one-third of the study population poor sleep quality and day time sleepiness was reported in more than half of the respondents.

Knowledge and Attitudes Toward Organ Donation Among Students and Professionals in Medical Colleges in the Eastern Part of India

Knowledge and Attitudes Toward Organ Donation Among Students and Professionals in Medical Colleges in the Eastern Part of India

Knowledge, Attitude, and Prevention Practice Towards Scabies Among Haramaya University Health and Medical Science Students, Harar, Ethiopia 2022

Background: Scabies is a skin disease caused by infestation and sensitization to Sarcoptes scabies mites and is an endemic in tropical and subtropical areas. It is a common skin infestation, endemic in developing countries, usually affecting families and large groups of people living together. Objective: The study was aimed to assess Knowledge, attitude, and prevention practice towards scabies among Haramaya university health and medical science students, Harar, Ethiopia, 2022. Methods: Institutional -based Cross-sectional study was conducted from April 25- May 21, 2022 among 417 randomly selected students. Self-administered questioner was used to collect data. The collected data was entered into SPSS version 22 for analysis. Descriptive and analytic data was used to present the finding. Result: Approximately 62.85% of the students demonstrated a high understanding of scabies, encompassing its transmission, symptoms, and prevention methods. Conversely, 6.1% exhibited poor knowledge. A finding of attitudes towards scabies among students only 36.7% demonstrating good attitude towards the condition. The data provided underscores a significant variation in scabies prevention practices among students with 65.8% exhibiting good practices. Conclusion: The study highlights the importance of continuous education and awareness programs to enhance knowledge and attitudes, which in turn can lead to better practices. It also underscores the need for targeted interventions to address the gaps identified in both knowledge levels and attitudes to foster a more proactive approach to scabies prevention and management. The findings serve as a valuable benchmark for the university and health authorities to develop tailored strategies that can improve health outcomes related to scabies within the community.