Psychometric Properties of Depression Anxiety and Stress in Preclinical Medical Students.

BACKGROUND

Medical education and learning outcomes might adversely affect students’ mental health in all axes depression, anxiety, and stress. Faculty has a concern regarding the mental well-being of the medical students.

OBJECTIVE

Explore the prevalence of depressive anxiety and stress symptoms, ways of coping, and their relationships to variables among preclinical medical students.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

A cross-sectional, observational study was conducted in preclinical medical students, Suranaree University of Technology in March 2015. Two hundred thirty medical students (First, second, and third year students) were included and then completed the Self-administered questionnaire, The Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) is a quantitatively measured for distress along the three axes of depression, anxiety, and stress.

RESULTS

At the beginning of the study, 230 students enrolled in the study (43.2% male). The overall response rate among medical students was 92.61% (213/230). The prevalence of mild to moderate degree in depression, anxiety, and stress level was 9.4%, 22.5%, and 5.6%, respectively while the prevalence of severe to extremely severe degree in depression, anxiety, and stress level was 0.9%, 3.2%, and 0%, respectively. The second-year medical students exhibited the highest percentage of depression, anxiety, and stress but there was no significant difference among depression, anxiety, and stress between academic year in preclinical medical students. No burnout and suicidal ideation were reported by either males or females.

CONCLUSION

This present indicated that medical students have a low level of depression, anxiety, and stress, however, the data is useful for further planning of prevention in psychometric risks.