Mental Health of Foreign Medical Graduates in Tamil Nadu, India: A Mixed-methods Study
Introduction: Over the last five years in India, there has been a three-fold increase in the number of candidates taking the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE). Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs) have recently experienced the Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and wars/internal...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
JCDR Research and Publications Private Limited
2023-08-01
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| Series: | Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.jcdr.net/articles/PDF/18274/63162_CE[Ra1]_F(SS)_PF1_(AkA_OM)_QC(AB_SS)_PFA(AB_OM)_PN(KM).pdf |
| Summary: | Introduction: Over the last five years in India, there has been
a three-fold increase in the number of candidates taking the
Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE). Foreign Medical
Graduates (FMGs) have recently experienced the Coronavirus
Disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and wars/internal conflicts
in the countries where they study.
Aim: To assess the mental health status of FMGs and analyse
the associated socio-demographic, economic, and academic
factors, as well as the impact of COVID-19 on their mental
health.
Materials and Methods: This explanatory mixed-method study
utilised a quantitative method (Phase 1 - Self-administered
questionnaire GHQ-12) followed by a qualitative method
{Phase 2 - Focus Group Discussion (FGD)}. The study included
169 FMGs doing their internship (academic year 2022-23) at
Government Medical College Krishnagiri, Tamil Nadu, India, and
their colleagues/batchmates who were willing to participate in
the study. Descriptive statistics and student t-test were used to
analyse the variables.
Results: In the present study, 99 (58.6%) study participants
were male, 130 (76.9%) were in the age group of 23-25 years,
and 114 (67.5%) belonged to the upper socio-economic class.
About 80 (47.3%) respondents scored higher than the overall
mean GHQ-12 score, indicating mental distress. FMGs who
had not yet joined the internship reported significant mental
health issues compared to those currently in internship. FGD
participants felt a lack of confidence in patient care, academic
burden, financial burden, family bereavement, and personal
health issues were the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on
their mental health.
Conclusion: Almost half of the FMGs in the present study were
under stress, which could be attributed to the financial burden
in the family, lack of academic confidence, and personal loss
during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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| ISSN: | 2249-782X 0973-709X |