Mental burden and perception of the study situation among undergraduate students during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study and comparison of dental and medical students

Abstract

ObjectivesTo investigate levels of distress, depression, anxiety, stress and perception of their current study situation during the COVID-19 pandemic among undergraduate dental and medical students.DesignObservational, cross-sectional study including two consecutive surveys (May and July 2020).SettingA large medical school in Germany.ParticipantsAll first year dental and medical students were invited. 132 participating first year students (44 dental, 88 medical) from the first survey and 150 students (50 dental, 100 medical) from the second were included in our analyses.Primary and secondary outcome measuresMental burden (distress thermometer, Patient Health Questionnaire-4, Perceived Stress Scale-4) and self-reported changes in mental health and perception of study situation during the COVID-19 pandemic (self-developed items) were compared. Open-ended questions were analysed by conventional content analyses.ResultsA considerable proportion of students (t1: May 2020: 84.1%; t2: July 2020: 77.3%) reported distress levels above cut-off. In July 2020, dental students reported significantly higher distress scores than medical students (dental: M=7.0, SD=2.3; medical: M=5.7; SD=2.1; p<0.001). More dental than medical students reported mild, moderate and severe levels of anxiety and depression symptoms. The majority stated that their mental health and study motivation had not changed during the pandemic. Logistic regression showed that being a dental student was significantly associated with a higher likelihood for serious worries regarding the study situation during COVID-19 at t1 (OR 4.0; 95% CI 1.1 to 14.2). At t2 higher distress was significantly associated with a higher likelihood for experiencing serious worries (OR 1.8; 95% CI 1.3 to 2.5). Regarding current concerns related to the pandemic, students most frequently reported difficulties with self-regulated learning (15.2%), study-related worries and uncertainty (14.4%), missing feedback of students and lecturers (11.4%) and lack of practical training (9.8%).ConclusionThe results suggest that high mental burden and the lack of practical training among medical and dental students is an increasing problem, with a possibly even higher urgency in dental students. Tailored psychological and educational support offers during and after the COVID-19 pandemic might help them as they progress through (medical and) dental school.

Dental Students’ Experiences during the COVID-19 Pandemic—A Cross-Sectional Study from Norway

“…Medical, dental, and healthcare education are in general regarded as emotionally and academically demanding, and the prevalence of anxiety and depression is higher than in the general population [ 3 , 9 , 10 , 11 ]. According to a meta-analysis of Quek et al, the prevalence of anxiety among medical students was 33.8%, whereas in the general population, did not exceed 25% depending on different surveys [ 10 , 12 , 13 ].…”

“…According to a meta-analysis of Quek et al, the prevalence of anxiety among medical students was 33.8%, whereas in the general population, did not exceed 25% depending on different surveys [ 10 , 12 , 13 ]. Moreover, Guse et al showed that dental students were even more distressed than medical students during the pandemic [ 9 ]. Many factors influence this situation, among others the workload.…”

“…Mekhemar et al showed that dental students experienced up to mild anxiety, stress, and depression during the pandemic, and women were significantly more affected than men [ 32 ]. Nevertheless, there are studies showing that male students were affected significantly more by stressors [ 33 ], whereas others are showing no statistical significance between gender regarding changes of mental health and worries about study situation and motivation [ 9 ].…”

“…At the dental educations in Norway, there are minimum clinical requirements that the students must meet to pass the clinical service. These stressors and demands can affect dental students’ academic performance, psychological well-being, and physical health [ 3 , 9 ]. Many studies published globally before the pandemic, showed a high incidence of depression, anxiety, and stress among dental students [ 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ].…”

Internet Addiction, Symptoms of Anxiety, Depressive Symptoms, Stress Among Higher Education Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Both scales offered the following possible responses: (0) not at all, ( 1 ) several days, ( 2 ) more than half the days, and ( 3 ) nearly every day. The total GAD-7 score was the sum of the coded responses and its ranges indicated: no anxiety symptoms (0–4), mild anxiety symptoms ( 5 – 9 ), moderate anxiety symptoms ( 10 – 14 ), and severe anxiety symptoms (15 and more). The severity ranges of the total PHQ-9 score were as follows: no depressive symptoms (0–4), mild depressive symptoms ( 5 – 9 ), moderate depressive symptoms ( 10 – 14 ), moderately severe depressive symptoms ( 15 – 19 ), and severe depressive symptoms (20 and more).…”