Defense mechanisms and quality of life of medical students according to graduation phase

Relationship between depression and quality of life among students: a systematic review and meta-analysis

The objectives of this systematic review were to estimate the prevalence of depression and to identify the relationship between depression and quality of life (QOL) among high school and university students. Literature search was performed in the Scopus, Embase, PubMed, Scielo, CINAHL and Web of Science databases, following the PRISMA methodology. The results were presented through descriptive approaches and meta-analysis. Thirty-six studies met the eligibility criteria, and twenty-six were included in the meta-analysis. The prevalence of depressive symptoms was 27% (95% CI 0.21-0.33) among students, being high school and university students was 25% (95% CI 0.14-0.37) and 27% (95% CI 0.20-0.34), respectively, and most studies have shown that depression was associated with low QOL. Among the limitations of the study is the difficulty of generalizing the results found, considering the large sample of health students. New studies should be conducted considering the severity, duration, and patterns of depressive symptoms in high school and university students, to better understand the relationship between depression and QOL.

Perceived quality of life among oral health therapy and dental students: A cross-cultural comparison

OBJECTIVES

This cross-sectional study examined the perceived quality of life (QOL) of Oral Health Therapy (OHT) students and compared the domain differences between Dental students, gender, and year-of-study.

METHODS

OHT students from a local polytechnic were invited to participate (IRB no. (SHS-2019-001). Perceived QOL was assessed with the multidimensional World Health Organization QOL (WHOQOL)-BREF instrument. Demographic information and WHOQOL-BREF responses were collected electronically. Raw scores were converted to transformed scores and related to data of Dental students from other countries. Statistical analyses were performed with a T-test, one-way ANOVA/posthoc Tukey's test, and Pearson's correlation (p < 0.05).

RESULTS

Of the total cohort of 66 students, 65 consented to participation (98.5% response rate). The study sample (mean age 19.2 ± 2.9 years) comprised of 83.1% females (54/65). Mean domain scores were as follows: Physical health - 54.90 ± 9.78; psychological - 50.98 ± 17.36; social relationships - 60.69 ± 16.47; and environment - 66.80 ± 13.66. The psychological domain was rated the lowest as with most other studies on Dental students. Mean scores for the overall perception of QOL and "satisfaction with health" (SWH) were 3.46 ± 0.83 and 3.35 ± 0.89 respectively. No significant difference in the domain and overall QOL/SWH scores were observed between genders. Psychological and environmental domains scores were significantly different between the first and third-year students (p ≤ 0.02). Correlations coefficients between the QOL domains ranged from r_s  = 0.18-0.66.

CONCLUSION

Aside from the USA and Saudi Arabia, the perceived QOL of Asian OHT students was generally comparable to those of Dental students from other countries. Overall perceived QOL and satisfaction with health were moderately favourable.

Predictive factors of quality of life among medical students: results from a multicentric study

Background

Medical students have a worse perception of Quality of Life (QoL) and a high prevalence of psychosocial suffering when compared to the general population. The objective of this study was to investigate associated factors with Quality of Life of Brazilian medical students from an exploratory analysis in a cross-sectional study described in accordance with the STROBE (Strengthening the Reporting of Observational studies in Epidemiology) guidelines.

Methods

This is a cross-sectional and multicenter study with national sample randomized by sex and year of the course. Data were collected between August 2011 and August 2012, using an electronic platform (VERAS platform). Our outcomes included: personal quality of life (QoLp) and quality of life related to medical course activities (QoLmc), both measured using a score ranging from 0 (worst) to 10 (best). Variables as predictors: the World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment abbreviated version (WHOQOL-BREF); VERAS-Q (a questionnaire created to evaluate the QoL of students in health professions); Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), Resilience Scale (RS-14), Interpersonal Reactivity Multidimensional Scale (IRMS) and Dundee Ready Education Environment Measure (DREEM).

Results

Our sample is comprised of 1350 (81.8%) medical students. When comparing predictors and both quality of life outcome measures, we found a negative correlation between QoL and the BDI, PSQI and ESS scores. Through a multiple linear regression mode we identified the median of significant predictors to higher QoL. We then run a tree regression model that demonstrated that the VERAS-Q—physical health domain (a domain assessing self-care, self-perception of health, sleep, leisure, physical activity and appearance) was the most important factor predicting QoL. Students with a VERAS-Q-physical health score ≥ 60.9 and a VERAS-Q-time management (address the management of the student's time, free time and whether he can dedicate himself to other activities besides the course) score ≥ 55.7 presented the best QoLmc (score: 8.08–9.63%). Students with a VERAS-Q-physical health score ≥ 79.7 presented the highest QoLp (score 8.93–8.74%).

Conclusion

Physical symptoms, self-perception of health and self-care assessed by the VERAS-Q physical domain had association with both final outcomes. Time management seems to have a protective role for better Quality of Life. These variables should be taken in consideration when designing interventions to improve Quality of Life among medical students.