Prevalence of Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Among Medical Students before their Final Examinations at a Private Medical College of Tamil Nadu, India: A Cross-sectional Study
Introduction: Due to their susceptibility to mental health problems, medical students should have their prevalence of stress, anxiety, and depression checked before their final examinations. Aim: To assess the prevalence of stress, anxiety, and depression among medical students at a private medi...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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JCDR Research and Publications Private Limited
2023-12-01
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| Series: | Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.jcdr.net/articles/PDF/18874/67589-REDRAFTED_arpitakabiraj_F(IS)_PF1(DA_OM)_redo_PFA(SHU)_Ref.PAT(OM)_PB(DA_OM)_PN(OM).pdf |
| _version_ | 1797372424397783040 |
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| author | Gautam Babu Dhanasekar Gurupatham Rajsri Thutikadu Rajasekaran |
| author_facet | Gautam Babu Dhanasekar Gurupatham Rajsri Thutikadu Rajasekaran |
| author_sort | Gautam Babu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction: Due to their susceptibility to mental health problems,
medical students should have their prevalence of stress, anxiety,
and depression checked before their final examinations.
Aim: To assess the prevalence of stress, anxiety, and depression
among medical students at a private medical college in Tamil
Nadu, India, four weeks before their final examinations.
Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at
a private medical college, Tamil Nadu, India, including 297 Bachelor
of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) students, using
Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) questionnaire
in December 2022 The survey was completed independently by
the students with verbal agreement obtained; the response rate
was 68.2%. The short form and history of usage of the DASS-21 in
comparable medical student research led to its selection.
Results: The mean age of the study participants was 20.48±1.23
years. The DASS-21 revealed prevalence rates of 60.9% for
depression, 72.7% for anxiety, and 40.4% for stress among 297
first- to third-year medical students. There was no discernible
effect of gender on these rates. With a depression frequency
of 69% and significantly higher rates of severe depression
(18.6%), first-year students demonstrated the highest scores,
which were statistically significant (p<0.05).
Conclusion: The study highlights the need for preventative
actions, such as professional counselling, early detection of
mental health problems, and educational programs on healthy
coping mechanisms. To support medical students from the
start of their academic journey and ultimately promote their
resilience and mental health, these interventions should be
specially designed. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T18:35:34Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-41d94b66596d4a4cb8785d06afe6930e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2249-782X 0973-709X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T18:35:34Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | JCDR Research and Publications Private Limited |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-41d94b66596d4a4cb8785d06afe6930e2023-12-29T12:15:50ZengJCDR Research and Publications Private LimitedJournal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research2249-782X0973-709X2023-12-011712010510.7860/JCDR/2023/67589.18874Prevalence of Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Among Medical Students before their Final Examinations at a Private Medical College of Tamil Nadu, India: A Cross-sectional StudyGautam Babu0Dhanasekar Gurupatham1Rajsri Thutikadu Rajasekaran2Assistant Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Annapoorana Medical College and Hospitals, Salem, Tamil Nadu, India.Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Annapoorana Medical College and Hospitals, Salem, Tamil Nadu, India.Assistant Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Sri Lalithambigai Medical College and Hospital, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.Introduction: Due to their susceptibility to mental health problems, medical students should have their prevalence of stress, anxiety, and depression checked before their final examinations. Aim: To assess the prevalence of stress, anxiety, and depression among medical students at a private medical college in Tamil Nadu, India, four weeks before their final examinations. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at a private medical college, Tamil Nadu, India, including 297 Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) students, using Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) questionnaire in December 2022 The survey was completed independently by the students with verbal agreement obtained; the response rate was 68.2%. The short form and history of usage of the DASS-21 in comparable medical student research led to its selection. Results: The mean age of the study participants was 20.48±1.23 years. The DASS-21 revealed prevalence rates of 60.9% for depression, 72.7% for anxiety, and 40.4% for stress among 297 first- to third-year medical students. There was no discernible effect of gender on these rates. With a depression frequency of 69% and significantly higher rates of severe depression (18.6%), first-year students demonstrated the highest scores, which were statistically significant (p<0.05). Conclusion: The study highlights the need for preventative actions, such as professional counselling, early detection of mental health problems, and educational programs on healthy coping mechanisms. To support medical students from the start of their academic journey and ultimately promote their resilience and mental health, these interventions should be specially designed.https://www.jcdr.net/articles/PDF/18874/67589-REDRAFTED_arpitakabiraj_F(IS)_PF1(DA_OM)_redo_PFA(SHU)_Ref.PAT(OM)_PB(DA_OM)_PN(OM).pdfdepressionanxietyand stress scale-21professional counsellingscreening campaigns |
| spellingShingle | Gautam Babu Dhanasekar Gurupatham Rajsri Thutikadu Rajasekaran Prevalence of Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Among Medical Students before their Final Examinations at a Private Medical College of Tamil Nadu, India: A Cross-sectional Study Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research depression anxiety and stress scale-21 professional counselling screening campaigns |
| title | Prevalence of Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Among Medical Students before their Final Examinations at a Private Medical College of Tamil Nadu, India: A Cross-sectional Study |
| title_full | Prevalence of Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Among Medical Students before their Final Examinations at a Private Medical College of Tamil Nadu, India: A Cross-sectional Study |
| title_fullStr | Prevalence of Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Among Medical Students before their Final Examinations at a Private Medical College of Tamil Nadu, India: A Cross-sectional Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Prevalence of Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Among Medical Students before their Final Examinations at a Private Medical College of Tamil Nadu, India: A Cross-sectional Study |
| title_short | Prevalence of Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Among Medical Students before their Final Examinations at a Private Medical College of Tamil Nadu, India: A Cross-sectional Study |
| title_sort | prevalence of depression anxiety and stress among medical students before their final examinations at a private medical college of tamil nadu india a cross sectional study |
| topic | depression anxiety and stress scale-21 professional counselling screening campaigns |
| url | https://www.jcdr.net/articles/PDF/18874/67589-REDRAFTED_arpitakabiraj_F(IS)_PF1(DA_OM)_redo_PFA(SHU)_Ref.PAT(OM)_PB(DA_OM)_PN(OM).pdf |
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