Graduating from Medical School amid a Pandemic: A Study of Graduates’ Mental Health and Concerns

Abstract

The corona virus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has vastly impacted individuals worldwide. Millions have contracted the disease thus far; however, the ramifications of containment measures such as quarantine and lockdown have affected many more. This study aimed to explore the prevalence of self-reported anxiety and depression among a cohort of Saudi medical students, as well as graduating medical students’ concerns, during this pandemic. This cross-sectional study utilized an online survey that collected demographic data, scores on validated anxiety, and depression scales, as well as the graduates’ concerns. The Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7) and the Public Health Questionnaire 9-item (PHQ-9) scales were used. Cutoff scores for anxiety symptoms were (GAD-7 ≥ 8) and for depression (PHQ-9 ≥ 10). Out of 83 graduates, 55 completed the online survey. Anxiety symptoms were present in 34%, depression was present in 26%, and 19% had both depression and anxiety symptoms. Female graduates experienced higher anxiety symptoms (54 vs. 15%, p = 0.004 ). The highest-ranked concerns were the possible effect of the pandemic on the forthcoming internship year and on the impact on the current academic course. We found high levels of anxiety and depression symptoms during the pandemic among our cohort of medical students in their final year of study. Our findings suggest that medical students in their final years may be negatively affected by the pandemic, where high levels of depression and anxiety coincide with concerns about the effect of the pandemic on the next phase of their vocation.

Estimation of Psychological Impairment and Coping Strategies during COVID-19 Pandemic among University Students in Saudi Arabia: A Large Regional Analysis

“…There is a dearth of investigations evaluating the psychological health of university students during the pandemic. Most of the studies conducted in KSA have included university students from specific disciplines such as medicine, pharmacy or nursing [ 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 ]. Other studies among the overall university students ascertained only anxiety, depression and stress by using various questionnaires [ 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 ].…”

“…This study revealed a high prevalence of anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorders among university students. The studies previously conducted in KSA used variable tools for the assessment of anxiety, depression and stress, i.e., DASS-21 (Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale) [ 34 , 35 ], GAD-7 and PHQ-9 [ 32 , 36 , 37 ]. However, we compared our findings with studies using similar tools for the assessment of mental health among university students, regardless of their discipline of education.…”

“…Taken together, the existing literature represents wide disparities across the available literature that warrant more research considering the geographical aspect of the study population. The existing national and international literature has elaborated a significant association of the female gender, young age, a history of COVID-19-positive cases among family and friends, chronic diseases, previous mental illnesses, living alone, healthcare students and students with learning difficulties with psychological ailments during the pandemic [ 20 , 31 , 32 , 37 , 48 ]. However, the demographic features were not found to be associated with the psychological illness scores in our study.…”

Anxiety and insecurity in medical interns: the impact of the pandemic COVID-19

“…On the other hand, the maintenance of practical classes held in direct care environments for patients with COVID-19 could be a source of stress for students who carry out practical health care activities in hospitals and clinics. 5 Senior students are exposed to biological risks and face the possibility of transmitting the virus to their families, when in direct contact with potentially infected patients. 4,6 Those situations, associated with daily events related to pandemic life, such as movement limitation, economic difficulties, and family distress could lead to an environment conducive to the development of psychological disorders.…”