Assessment of Mental Health among Medical Students of RMU Rawalpindi: Assessment of Mental Health of RMU Students

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Introduction

Mental health is an essential part of our general health. Students, especially those studying in medical colleges, are more prone to disturbed mental health, which can further affect the performance of medical students when they enter professional practice.

Objectives

The objective of this study is to assess the mental health and psychosocial well-being of MBBS students studying at Rawalpindi Medical University and to analyse factors affecting it.

Methods and Materials

In this cross-sectional study, a total of 315 students were enrolled across five medical years of study using consecutive sampling. Data was collected in a 3-part questionnaire; Demographics data, General Health Questionnaire-28 (GHQ-28) and a self-structured Factors Affecting Mental Health (FAMH) Questionnaire with 14 items was used. Likert Scoring was used for GHQ (cutoff=24).

Descriptive Statistics of mean, median, frequency, and percentage were applied to further describe the data. Chi-Square, T-test (Mann-Whitney U test and Kruskal-Wallis H test) on FAMH, and Binary Logistic Regression analysis, were applied to the data to find the association of GHQ score with the demographics of the students and FAMH.

Results

A total of 315 students participated with 34% (107) male and 66% (208) female. Mean age was 21.1 years (SD=2.65). 72.1% (227) non-boarders and 27.6% (87) boarders were included.

A significant difference was observed in year of study, where 50.7% basic years students and 35.2% clinical years students showed GHQ scores less than 24 (p=0.006). Only 34.5% of boarders and 46.2% of non-boarders had GHQ scores below 24 (p=0.060).

Physical appearance (p<0.001), preference in choosing MBBS (p=0.002), fear of failure of exams (p=0.003), support from staff (p=0.001), social habits (p=0.030), sports (p=0.001), physical health, financial issues, and chronic illnesses (p<0.001 respectively), were the factors that affected mental health with a clear statistical significance. Family structure (p=0.064), demand of studies (p=0.078), some foreign exam (p=0.096), family support (p=0.556), substance abuse (p=0.465), had no statistical significance on mental health.

Conclusion

Clinical year students are at higher risk of mental health issues. Physical appearance, fear of failure of exams, financial stress, and social habits affect mental health adversely.  Moreover, stress of medical education and lack of awareness also affects mental health.

Keywords

Mental health, GHQ, Factors affecting mental health, medical students, university.