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Title: | Psychological wellbeing and mental health amongst medical undergraduates: A descriptive study assessing more than 1,000 medical students in Sri Lanka |
Authors: | Dahanayake, D. Rajapakse, H. Wickramasinghe, A. Chandradasa, M. Rohanachandra, Y. Perera, S. Nillo, A.M. Molodynski, A. |
Keywords: | Psychological wellbeing mental health |
Issue Date: | 2022 |
Publisher: | London Avenue Publishing Co |
Citation: | The International Journal of Social Psychiatry.2022; 68(6):1263-1269 [Epub 2021 Jun 18] |
Abstract: | BACKGROUND: Studies from around the world have shown higher rates of anxiety, depression, alcohol and other drug use, and burnout in medical students. AIMS: The aim of this study was to identify the socio-demographic factors and severity of difficulties Sri Lankan medical students face regarding psychological wellbeing and burnout. METHOD: This one-off survey used a cross-sectional design, assessing substance use, psychological wellbeing, and burnout using the CAGE, GHQ-12, and OLBI. The survey was open to all medical students in six universities in Sri Lanka. Chi-square analysis was used to assess the statistical significance related to categorical dependent variables and one-way ANOVA for continuous dependent variables. RESULTS: A higher prevalence of diagnosed mental health conditions was found following admission to the medical course in comparison prior to admission. Sixty-two percent of students had a score of more than 2 on the GHQ-12 indicating caseness. The OLBI identified exhaustion in 79% of students. The CAGE questionnaire was positive in 4.8% of students. CONCLUSIONS: Only a small proportion of students are recognizing their mental health difficulties and seeking help. Further understanding is required as to why this is, as well as re-evaluation of the demands of the curriculum. Effective ways of regularly identifying and providing practical and evidence-based support for mental health problems in medical and other undergraduates need to be identified and introduced. KEYWORDS: Sri Lanka; Wellbeing; burnout; medical students. |
Description: | Indexed in MEDLINE |
URI: | http://repository.kln.ac.lk/handle/123456789/22830 |
ISSN: | 0020-7640 (Print) 1741-2854 (Electronic) 0020-7640 (Linking) |
Appears in Collections: | Journal/Magazine Articles |
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