Medical College Students Research Articles

Features of medical university students’ professional value orientations

Objective. To identify the features of medical university students’ professional value orientations.Material and methods. Methods of theoretical analysis of philosophical, psychological and pedagogical literature on the research problem were used; G. E. Leevik’s questionnaire “Value orientations of personality 8” (VOP-8); methods of statistical analysis of empirical data (generalization and grouping of data, Spearman’s rank correlation method).Results. The analysis of professional value orientations of junior medical university students showed that the participants of the study are characterized, first of all, by such value orientations as labor and material values, the desire to be financially secure, a good specialist, to have a vast professional experience, to improve themselves in the profession. At the same time, there is an underestimation of the importance of moral and moral qualities of effective professional communication of a doctor.Conclusion. To ensure high quality of professional medical education it is important to form in students value orientations and professionally important qualities, which are necessary for successful professional activity and effective communication with patients, their relatives, colleagues and administration of medical institution.

Physical Activity Pattern among Undergraduate Medical Students in a Rural Medical College in Southkerala: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Physical inactivity is the prime contributor to one –third of the world’s adult population’s noncommunicablediseases. Doctors, in spite of their knowledge regarding the benefits, often find it hard to stick toa proper exercise regime and follow their own advice. This could be due to habits they picked up during theircollege years. The present study aims to estimate the proportion of physical activity among MBBS students of arural medical college in Kerala using WHO’s GPAQ questionnaire (Global Physical Activity Questionnaire) andalso to determine the factors associated with their physical activity pattern.Methodology: A descriptive cross sectional study was conducted among undergraduate medical students ofa private medical college in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, from December 2021 to April 2022. Physical activitypatterns were assessed using the WHO’s Global Physical Activity Questionnaire. An online questionnaire usingKobo Toolbox was developed and shared to record their physical activity patterns .Results: A total of 341 students participated in the study. The study showed that only 25% of students achievedabove 600 METs (Metabolic equivalents) and had adequate physical activities. The mean duration of hours spenton sedentary activities on average per day by the study participants was 6.75 hours (SD 3.6). Among the 341students, 78 (22.8%) reported that they were unable to do physical activities. The reasons for unable to do physicalactivities were study burden 48 (61%), engaging in other activities 35(44.8%), lack of motivation 22 (28.2%), lack offacilities 19 (24.5%), health issues 18 (23%) and environmental barriers 5 (6.5%),. Among the students with aboveaverage screen time, 71% of them were found to be physically inactive. and was found to be statistically significant.Conclusion: Medical institutions should have an adequate environment for physical activity. It is ideal to appointa physical education trainer and allot mandatory time for physical activities for a few hours every week. Studentsmust be encouraged to reduce time spent glued to their mobile screens. Hostels must have properly maintainedand easily accessible exercise areas with adequate equipment. Health awareness programs and marathons mustbe promoted.

Sleep Pattern Factors on Premature Skin Aging in YARSI University Medical Students, Force of 2021

Skin aging does not only occur in older people, but skin aging can appear when entering early adulthood or is called premature skin aging. Skin problems such as the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines on the face, apart from that hyperpigmentation can also occur and large pores, are signs of premature skin aging. Lifestyle factors greatly influence the occurrence of premature skin aging, one of which is poor sleep patterns with poor sleep quality. This study aims to test and show the relationship between sleep patterns and premature skin. Quantitative research methods were applied in this research. The research population was students from the Faculty of Medicine, YARSI University Class of 2021, aged 20-25 years. Data collection methods used questionnaires and Janus skin analyzer examination. This research analysis uses cross sectional observational analytics. Statistical analysis revealed a significant relationship between sleep patterns and premature skin aging with the Asymp value. Sig. (2-tailed) < 0.001. Signs of premature skin aging such as fine wrinkles, large pores, hyperpigmentation begin to appear at the age of 20 years. It can be concluded that insufficient sleep time and quality sleep are factors that influence the occurrence of premature skin aging.

Stress levels and the factors associated with perceived stress among medical students

Introduction: The life of a medical student is stressful due to a variety of known and modifiable factors that tend to affect their academic output. Identification and amelioration of these stressors would go a long way to improve medical education.
 Objective: To assess stress levels and factors associated with perceived stress among medical students.
 Materials & Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted from March 2022 to June 2022 on 409 randomly selected preclinical and clinical students of different medical colleges of Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan. A structured questionnaire was used for data collection about socio-demographic characteristics and potential risk factors (personal, environmental, academic) related to stress. The Kessler Psychological Distress Instrument (K10) was used for assessment of perceived stress levels. Data analysis was done with SPSS version 21 for descriptive statistics.
 Results: Most students were of the age group of 18-20 years (46.7%) with 55.3% males and 44.7% females. Majority of students (59.2%) students were day scholars with 40.8% resident in hostels. According to K10 scale, 7.8% students were normal, 49.6% had mild stress, and 32.1% had moderate stress. Severe stress was present in 10.5% of medical students. Levels of stress were positively associated with Academic, Psychosocial, Environmental, and Health Related stressors.
 Conclusion: Medical students of the selected colleges in Faisalabad suffered considerable levels of stress related to a number of modifiable factors that affected their academic performance.

Internet Addiction Amongst Students of a Medical College in Central India: A Cross-Sectional Study

Internet addiction is an upcoming problem that has been considered as an important public health problem and the position of India comes after China, US and Japan in terms of highest number of internet users. To assess the usage of internet among students of Medical college and to classify levels of internet addiction. A questionnaire based crosssectional study was planned. Students of 1st year, 3rd year and interns were selected to participate in study. Young’s Addiction Test was used as a tool to assess and classify internet addiction. Data was entered and analysed in Epiinfo7. 49.75% (199) students has mean score between 50-79 which indicates moderate dependence on internet whereas 36.50 (146) students has mean score of 31-49 and 3.75% (15) students show mean score between 81-100 which indicates mild and severe dependency on internet respectively. 10% (40) students has mean score between 0-30 which indicates normal internet usage. the internet usage among medical students is on rise which should be taken care of with care and special program should be taken to create awareness amongst students.

A cross-sectional study on smartphone use and mindfulness among undergraduate medical students of a medical college in Kolkata

Background: Nowadays, increasing use of smart phone has led to smart phone addiction. Even medical students are inadvertently using these devices for non-academic purposes. Excessive smart phone use can impact mindfulness, which, in turn, can hamper patient care. Aims and Objectives: The objective of this study was to assess the smart phone usage and mindfulness among Undergraduate Medical Students of a Medical College, Kolkata. Materials and Methods: An observational study and cross-sectional in design was conducted from October 01, 2022, to December 12, 2022, among 423 undergraduate medical students of a medical college in Kolkata selected by simple random sampling technique using a pre-designed pre-tested structured questionnaire (containing mindful attention awareness scale). Besides, assessment of Digital Wellbeing and Parental Control application was done. Data were analyzed using Microsoft Office Excel 2019 and SPSSv25. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to represent the data. Results: Over 80% participants were using their smart phones excessively and 52.5% students were unmindful. YouTube (26.9%) was the maximally used application. The participants spent 360 min/day on smart phone on an average. Being a male had a higher odd of excessive smart phone usage. Hostel residents were more mindful than others. Duration of smart phone use had a positive relation with mindfulness (Spearman’s rho 0.108, P=0.026). Conclusion: The participants spent a major portion of the day in front of smart phone screens. Smartphone use had a positive impact on mindfulness. By setting boundaries, that is, limiting daily usage in websites and apps, smart phone use can be reduced.

Occurrence and Reduction of Hepatitis B Vaccine Hesitancy Among Medical University Students — Shanxi Province, China, 2020

Occurrence and Reduction of Hepatitis B Vaccine Hesitancy Among Medical University Students — Shanxi Province, China, 2020

Prevalence of sexually risky behaviors among Mexican medical students.

University students are at high risk of sexually transmitted infections due to the lack of adequate sexual education, as well as multiple associated factors, which lead to risky sexual practices. It is important to update data about sexual behaviors to identify the main factors associated with sexually risky behaviors. The present study aimed to evaluate the current prevalence of sexually risky practices in medical students. A cross-sectional study was conducted among medical students through an anonymous self-administered online questionnaire including demographic characteristics and sexual behaviors. We used descriptive statistics and multivariable regression to analyze the data collected. A total of 1520 undergraduate medical students aged between 18 and 28 years old were included in the study. Sixty percent of the students were sexually active with a higher proportion in men (70%), likewise, they had an earlier sexual debut (16.5 vs 16.9 years old), and a greater number of lifetime sexual partners than women (3.8 vs 2.2). The main sexual activity in both groups was vaginal sex with high use of condoms (75%), however, most of them (67%) reported having unprotected oral sex. Logistic regression analysis showed that condomless sex was associated with having oral sex, anal sex, and being female. The findings of this study showed that medical university students are involved in risky sexual behaviors, the major risk factor was unprotected oral sex. Based on these results, we recommended designing interventions to improve sexual education and preventive approaches from early stages such as in middle school students to mitigate sexually transmitted infections among medical university students.

Psychological Implications of Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic and Lockdown among Undergraduate Medical Students of North India

Abstract Background: The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is currently an international public health crisis. The Indian government had announced the suspension of colleges indefinitely across India. Students of medical colleges are facing distress due to the abrupt disruption of academic routine. Objectives: The study aimed to assess the prevalence and correlates of stress, anxiety, and depression among undergraduate medical students of a medical college of North India during COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among medical students of a medical college in North India. Data were collected via a prevalidated, semi-structured questionnaire consisting of sociodemographic and behavioral questions and three standard psychometric scales, i.e., Perceived Stress Scale, Coronavirus Anxiety Scale, and Major Depression Inventory Scale for assessing stress, anxiety, and depression, respectively. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (version 27.0; SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Results: We reported that majority of students (86.5%) have increased social media usage. The level of stress is moderate (72.5%) to high (19%), and depression is also reported in many students from moderate (11%) to severe (17.8%) levels. A small proportion of students showed anxiety though anxiety scores are significantly higher for males than females and for 1st- and 2nd-year subjects than final-year subjects. More than 60% of students are physically active who also showed a low level of stress, depression, and anxiety than sedentary subjects. Conclusion: Our results show that stress, anxiety, and depression were high in medical students during lockdown. Increased food intake and social media usage were risk factors for developing stress, anxiety, and depression. Physical activity has a positive impact on mental health of the students.

Smoking prevalence among students of medical university

Smoking prevalence among students of medical university

Exploring the Factors Influencing the Current Situation of Classroom Learning Engagement among Medical College Students—Taking Southwest Medical University as an Example

Exploring the Factors Influencing the Current Situation of Classroom Learning Engagement among Medical College Students—Taking Southwest Medical University as an Example

Assessment of Learning Styles Using Kolb’s Learning Style Inventory among Medical College Students: A Cross-sectional Study

Introduction: Technology has become increasingly integral in medical education, especially with the implementation of newer Competency Based Medical Education (CBME) curricula. Blending conventional methods with e-learning and ensuring its effectiveness in supporting student learning requires effort and consideration. In this regard, Kolb’s learning styles, introduced in 1984, can be helpful in identifying different types of learners within the student population and tailoring teaching methods accordingly to enhance student outcomes. Aim: To assess the learning styles of medical students using Kolb’s Learning Style Inventory, version 3.1, and to compare the learning styles with the year of study. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional, questionnairebased study was conducted in the Department of Pharmacology, Terna Medical College, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. on 194 first and second Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) students. The study included students who were present when the questionnaire was administered. The learning styles were assessed using Kolb’s Learning Style Inventory, version 3.1. Descriptive statistics were applied. Results: The total strength of both the first and second-year batches combined was 254. Out of these, 194 students were present when the questionnaire was administered, resulting in a response rate of 76.38%. Seven incorrectly answered questionnaires were excluded from the analysis. Among the 194 valid questionnaires received, 55 students (29.41%) had convergent as their learning style, making it the most common learning style. The next most common learning style was accommodative, with 52 students (27.81%) exhibiting this style. Specifically, among the first-year MBBS students, 35 out of 108 (32.41%) had a convergent learning style, while among the second-year MBBS students, 24 out of 79 (30.38%) had an accommodative learning style. There was a statistically significant difference observed in the learning styles between the first and second-year MBBS students (p-value <0.05). Conclusion: In present study, it was observed that the convergent learning style was dominant among the medical students in the first and second years combined, with the first year being predominantly convergent and the second year being predominantly accommodative.

A cross-sectional study on prevalence of internet addiction and factors associated with it among medical college students in Bengaluru

Background: The use of the internet by medical students is unavoidable since it has transformed medical practice with the increasing use of telemedicine and evidence-based medicine. Because the internet is readily available and reasonably priced, students use it to seek pertinent medical information as well as literature. However, sensible usage of internet is strongly suggested by psychologists and educators since over consumption can lead to related medical and psychological disorders. It can be difficult to identify problematic internet use among college students because they use the internet for almost everything in their daily lives, including communication, shopping, business, travel, research, entertainment, and more. It is also difficult to imagine living without the internet. Aims and Objectives: (i) The aims of the study were to estimate the proportion of internet addiction among the students of a private medical college in Bengaluru and (ii) to identify the factors associated with internet addiction. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was carried out among 225 undergraduate medical students. Young’s internet addiction test was used to assess the prevalence of internet addiction. Results: The mean age of the study was found to be 19.6 ± 1.03 years. Among the 225 students who participated in the study, 16.45% and 4.45% had moderate and severe internet addiction, respectively. It was found that place of residence, internet use per day (hours), monthly data usage, and most common location and time of internet access significantly affect the extent of pathological internet use among medical students. Conclusion: Most of the students showed mild-to-moderate use of the internet. With the availability of high-speed internet on mobile phones, constant monitoring of internet use is essential to prevent severe addiction.

Unveiling the Connection Between Video Games and Mental Health Among College Students in South India

Introduction: Playing Video Games without control can lead to Gaming Disorder (GD) which is also called a problematic gaming pattern or video game addiction. This study is to determine the prevalence of video game disorders and the various associated factors leading to them. Methodology: This cross-sectional study was done among 930 medical students studying MBBS in a private medical college in Chengalpattu district, Tamil Nadu. Data was collected by pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire. Gaming disorder was assessed by Internet Gaming Disorder Short Form – 9 (IGD-SF 9), depression by Patient Health Questionnaire – 9, and anxiety by Generalized Anxiety Disorder - 7 Questionnaire. Data were analysed using SPSS version 26. Results: Among the study participants, 37% were males, and 63% were females. The prevalence of Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) was 9.7%. Greater than 2 hours of gaming per day, online game genre, having academic impact due to gaming, sleep problems, and neck pain/back pain due to gaming were found to be important predictors of gaming disorder. Conclusion: Awareness has to be created among students and stakeholders regarding gaming disorders among medical college students. Further research should be done to understand the relationship between GD and psychological problems like depression and anxiety.

The prevalence of allergy diseases among medical university students in a particular region

The prevalence of allergy diseases among medical university students in a particular region

Predicting cardiometabolic disease in medical students using FibroScan and 30-year Framingham risk scores.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) has become a major cause of end-stage hepatic disease worldwide requiring liver transplantation, whereas cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally. Development of MASLD and CVD among young adults is understudied. This study aimed to assess CVD risk in healthy young medical university students using lipid-based and body mass index (BMI)-based 30-year Framingham risk scores (FS30) and to evaluate disease burden for asymptomatic patients with MASLD by performing FibroScan. We included medical university students aged 18-30 years without any known medical conditions. All participants underwent physical and anthropometric measurements, and completed a questionnaire. Blood samples were collected for the analysis of glycosylated haemoglobin levels, renal and liver function, biomarker analysis to calculate liver fibrosis risk, and subclinical atherosclerosis biomarkers. Liver stiffness measurements (LSM) and controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) values were measured using FibroScan 430 mini to calculate liver fibrosis and steatosis, respectively. FS30 based on body mass index (FS30-BMI) and lipid levels (FS30-Lipid) were also calculated. Overall, 138 medical students participated in this study after providing informed consent. Using FS30-Lipid and FS30-BMI, CVD risk was identified in two (1.5%; n = 138) and 23 (17.6%; n = 132) individuals, respectively. MASLD fibrosis was identified based on FibroScan LSMs >7.0 kPa in 12 medical students (9.4%, n = 128; 95% CI, 4.7-14.8%). Consumption of coffee and sugary soft drinks were predictive of liver fibrosis. In total, 36 students (28.6%; n = 128) were found to have hepatic steatosis based on FibroScan CAP values >236 dB, and the predictive factors included increased body fat percentage, male sex, and lack of physical activity. Levels of inflammatory biomarkers, such as C-reactive protein and lipids were not elevated in participants with MASLD. CVD risk was identified in >17% of young medical students. The frequency of liver fibrosis and steatosis was also high among the participants, indicating that liver damage starts at a relatively early age. Early intervention is needed among young adults via health promotion and lifestyle changes.

Obesity and its related factors among university medical students in Syria: A cross-sectional study.

Obesity is a worldwide pandemic that has many contributing factors. There is very scarce data available on this issue for the population in Syria. We aim to evaluate the body mass index and related obesity rates of medical students as they are the role model for the general population. We aim to explore the breadth of potential associated factors including psychological, physical activity, dietary, and a broad array of lifestyle and socio-demographic factors. This is a cross-sectional study that was conducted at a major university in Damascus. Paper-based questionnaires were distributed that included the International Physical Activity Questionnaire short version and the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale. The mean body mass index was 23.5 (±4.2) kg/m2 with 540 participants enrolled in this study. Males had significantly higher body mass index than females by 2.5 kg/m2 (p < 0.001, χ2 = 47.9, V = 0.3). In our sample, 304 (60.68%) had normal body mass index (18.5-24.99), 40 (7.98%) were considered underweight (body mass index ⩽ 18.5), 120 (23.95%) were considered overweight (body mass index = 25-29.99) and 37 (7.39%) were considered obese. While many factors were found to be significantly associated with body mass index and obesity, only physical activity, depression, having a first-degree family history with obesity and poor dietary habits were associated in regression analyses evaluating all predictors concurrently. The findings reflect an ongoing epidemic of obesity. Our findings can guide targeted intervention for this young population who will become doctors and health role models in the future. More studies should be conducted to find the best possible ways to tackle this issue in the future.

Sexual Knowledge, Attitude, Behaviours and Sources of Influences in Undergraduate Medical Students in a Peripheral Medical College: A Cross-sectional Study

Background: The word ‘sex’ in India is taboo and is not discussed openly. Sex attitude refers to one’s attitude towards sexuality or different sexual behaviours. Poor sex knowledge causes many problems. A liberal attitude without adequate knowledge is harmful. Aim: To explore and study sexual knowledge, attitudes, behaviours and the sources of influence and to examine the relationship between sexual knowledge, attitude and behaviours in undergraduate medical students. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out to assess sex knowledge and attitude among 506 medical undergraduate students. A Google document in the form of a structured questionnaire containing three important parts was used for the assessment: (a) demographic details of students; (b) sex knowledge and attitude questionnaire II (SKAQ II); and (c) Sexual Behaviour and Sources of Influence (SBSI) scale. Data was interpreted using mean, unpaired ‘t’ test and chi-square test. Results: Overall, participants showed a conservative attitude towards sex. As the academic year of participants progressed, sex knowledge increased. A statistically significant positive correlation was observed between sex knowledge and attitude scores. Sexual behaviours through media and with self or others were found to be low. The Internet was found to be the major source for gathering information and was considered the most reliable source. Conclusion: Participants were deficient in sex knowledge and had a conservative attitude in certain areas. Females, higher education levels and urban area participants had higher sex knowledge and liberal attitudes. There are areas of sex knowledge and attitude that need improvement by proper sex education.

Assessment of knowledge, attitude, and practice of artificial intelligence among medical students in a tertiary care hospital

Background: Artificial intelligence (AI) is gaining prominence in the field of medicine with potential benefits in diagnosis, treatment, and medical education. However, the extent to which medical students are informed about AI, their attitudes toward the integration of AI with medicine, and their engagement in AI-related practices remains an essential aspect yet to be explored. Aims and Objectives: This study aims at assessing the knowledge, attitude, and practice of AI among medical students in a tertiary care hospital and understanding the perspectives of students toward AI as a teaching tool and in medical practice. Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional study using an online survey consisting of closedended questions under categories of demographical data, knowledge, attitude, practice, and discussion among medical students of a government medical college and hospital in Kallakurichi. Results: Among 150 participants of the study, 74.16% were found to have a basic knowledge of AI cumulatively. 49.33% of the participants reported that they expected a positive impact of AI in health care; 14.0% shared that AI could have a negative impact on existing health-care practices; and the remaining 36.67% were impartial toward the outcome of AI integration. 10.67% of participants were extremely confident in their AI skills in medical practice; 26% reported that they were somewhat confident; 45.33% believed that they could adapt if needed; and 18% were uncertain of it. Finally, 17.33% were accepting toward AI evaluating their clinical skills, 36.0% were in strong denial of AI-based evaluation, and 46.67% agreed that it could be useful in some specific cases. Conclusion: In conclusion, the study highlights the current level of knowledge and attitudes of medical students toward AI. Incorporating AI tools and knowledge into medical education may lead to more informed and positively inclined future health-care professionals who can harness the potential benefits of AI in health care and advance medical knowledge.

Stress Among 1st year Medical Students in Bangladesh

Background: The MBBS course is a long and stressful course throughout the world for undergraduate medical students. There is a growing concern about stress among medical students and its effects. Although each year of medical students is characterized by unique stress, the students in their first year are more prone to stressful situations. The reasons include academic pressure, unrealistic expectations and unfamiliarity in a new environment. These stresses are badly affecting their physical and mental health, which also affects their academic performance. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study over four weeks in the year 2022, conducted at different medical colleges in Sylhet. The sample size was 286 first-year MBBS students in different medical colleges. The sampling technique was a non-probability convenient type. Data were collected by using the pretested Medical Students Stressor Questionnaire (MSSQ) and examined using SPSS, version 22. Results: A total of 286 medical students were recruited, with age range of 19-21years; among them, 90 were male and 196 were female. The maximum number of students found to have moderate stress (185, 64.7%) followed by much stress (80, 28.0%).There were few students with no stress (0.3%), extreme stress (1.0%), and mild stress (5.9%) found in this study. The unpaired t-test showed significantly higher (p = &lt;0.001) stress among females (3.82±0.49) than males (3.52±0.49). Conclusion: It can be concluded that the vast majority of students experienced moderate stress, and analysis highlighted a greater association with academic factors. So, the purpose of our study is to design a proper curriculum for our students where mental health will be given priority.