Mental health and coping methods of medical students during the fourth wave of the Covid-19 pandemic: a descriptive cross-sectional study
- VernacularTitle:Sức khỏe tâm thần và một số phương cách ứng phó của sinh viên y khoa trong làn sóng thứ 4 của đại dịch Covid-19: Nghiên cứu mô tả cắt ngang
- Author:
Nhu Minh Hang TRAN
1
;
Quang Ngoc Linh NGUYEN
1
;
Tran Tuan Anh LE
1
;
Thi Nguyet BUI
1
;
Thi Hoa DANG
1
;
Viet Trinh TRUONG
1
;
Vu Quoc Huy NGUYEN
1
Author Information
- Keywords: DASS-21; mental health; coping methods; Medical Students; Covid-19 Pandemic
- From: Hue Journal of Medicine and Pharmacy 2023;13(7):140-146
- CountryViet Nam
- Language:Vietnamese
- Abstract: Background: The Covid-19 pandemic that occurred at the end of 2019, especially the fourth wave in Vietnam, has affected the world not only in terms of economy, society, and physical health but also affected the mental health of population in general and of medical students in particular. The use of different coping methods may be protective or risk factors for mental health problems. Objectives: 1. To investigate the prevalence of anxiety, stress, and depression among medical students during the Covid -19 pandemic 2. To describe several coping behavior among medical students during the pandemic. Subjects and methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study conducted on 2350 students of medicine programme range from the first year to the sixth year in the school year 2021 - 2022 at Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy. Using the DASS-21 scale to survey anxiety, depression and stress in research subjects and a self-designed questionnaire to describe the coping methods of medical students. Results: out of 2350 sample, the prevelance of depression, anxiety, and stress was 38%, 33.2%, and 17% respectively. 13.8% had both anxiety and stress, 15.4% had both stress and depression, and 12.8% had a combination of anxiety, depression and stress. Coping behavior was commonly selected including: eating and sleeping regularly as usual (68.1%); doing exercise at home at least 5 days/week and 30 minutes/day (23.9%); 36.5% of students performed their favorite activities under appropriate conditions most of the time or often. In addition, 59.7% of students had learn new things on the internet, 4.5% of students had practiced meditation and relaxation, 2.9% of students had chosen to write a diary and things they were grateful for; 32% had still maintain contacted with friends via video calls, text messages and 34.4% had chosen to participate in volunteer activities. Conclusion: This study highlights a high rate of anxiety, stress and depression among medical students during the fouthth wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. Personal lifestyle changes and social activities were amongst the most comon coping behavior reported.
