Department of Dermatology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, United States of America; Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, United States of America.
Department of Health, Human Performance and Recreation, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, United States of America.
Res Vet Sci. 2019 Aug;125:370-373. doi: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2019.07.007. Epub 2019 Jul 10.
It is no secret that the rigors of professional medical programs are creating an immense strain on mental health, and studies show that students are coping poorly. It is becoming more widely known that this problem especially exists in veterinary medicine. Veterinary colleges are starting to make changes to address the mental health crisis among their student (and practitioner) population, however, in order to solve a problem you must first understand your audience. There are still questions regarding who is more often affected and why? In this study, the prevalence and correlates of stress, anxiety, and depression among veterinary students in the Southeastern US is the primary focus. Three hundred and forty two participants answered survey questions addressing socio-demographics, as well as, completed a perceived stress scale and patient health questionnaire (PHQ-4) to measure anxiety and depression. Chi-square, independent samples t-test, and ANOVA were conducted to assess demographic correlates of stress, anxiety, and depression. High levels of stress, anxiety, and depression were identified among veterinary students participating in the study. Stress level was significantly associated with sex and Grade Point Average (GPA): females and those with GPA <3.0 exhibited higher levels of stress. While it is good that veterinary colleges are already making changes, the question remains if these changes are significant enough. Based on this study's results, transitioning to a pass/fail grading system and implementing regular mindfulness practice are proposed changes that may aid in promoting a positive mental health culture for students and future veterinary professionals.
众所周知，专业医学项目的严格要求给心理健康带来了巨大压力，研究表明学生的应对能力较差。越来越多的人知道，这个问题在兽医医学中尤其存在。兽医学院正开始做出改变，以解决学生（和从业者）群体中的心理健康危机，但要解决问题，首先必须了解你的受众。仍有一些问题涉及到哪些人更容易受到影响以及原因是什么？在这项研究中，美国东南部兽医学生的压力、焦虑和抑郁的患病率及其相关因素是主要关注点。342 名参与者回答了关于社会人口统计学的调查问题，并完成了感知压力量表和患者健康问卷（PHQ-4），以衡量焦虑和抑郁程度。进行了卡方检验、独立样本 t 检验和方差分析，以评估压力、焦虑和抑郁的人口统计学相关性。参与研究的兽医学生中存在较高水平的压力、焦虑和抑郁。压力水平与性别和平均绩点（GPA）显著相关：女性和 GPA<3.0 的学生表现出更高的压力水平。虽然兽医学院已经在做出改变是件好事，但问题仍然是这些改变是否足够显著。基于这项研究的结果，建议改为通过/失败的评分系统，并实施定期的正念练习，这些改变可能有助于为学生和未来的兽医专业人员营造积极的心理健康文化。
