Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
Division of Neuro-Epidemiology, Department of Neurosurgery, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
Psychol Health Med. 2022 Jul;27(6):1213-1226. doi: 10.1080/13548506.2020.1858488. Epub 2020 Dec 27.
Preventing burnout and promoting positive mental health among medical students is important. Relevant research is lacking on positive mental health in medical students, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. We conducted a cross-sectional survey of Sri Lankan students enrolled in a five-year medical program. Measures included the Mental Health Continuum-Short Form, Kessler 10 Psychological Distress Scale, and Oldenburg Burnout Inventory. We investigated relationships between year in program, mental health indicators, and academic performance. Three hundred twenty-seven students participated (35% response rate). Most students had moderate positive mental health (64.8%) and severe psychological distress (40.4%). Final year students reported more psychological distress and burnout than first year students. Female students had higher burnout scores than males. In multivariable models, fourth and fifth year students evidenced lower positive mental health than first year students. Mental health indicators were unassociated with academic performance. Overall, distress rates were higher than those reported among students in other countries. Higher burnout and distress may be driven by increased responsibilities in the final clinical years of training. Bolstering positive mental health through positive emotions, meaning, and social connection may minimize burnout and distress, although extracurricular activities require time. Interventions to reduce medical student distress in Sri Lanka are needed.
预防医学生 burnout 并促进其积极心理健康很重要。关于医学生积极心理健康的相关研究较少，特别是在中低收入国家。我们对斯里兰卡参加五年制医学项目的学生进行了横断面调查。测量包括心理健康连续体-短式量表、凯斯勒 10 项心理困扰量表和奥登堡倦怠量表。我们调查了项目年限、心理健康指标和学业成绩之间的关系。327 名学生参与（35%的回应率）。大多数学生具有中等积极心理健康（64.8%）和严重心理困扰（40.4%）。高年级学生比一年级学生报告更多的心理困扰和倦怠。女生的倦怠得分高于男生。在多变量模型中，第四年和第五年学生的积极心理健康水平低于一年级学生。心理健康指标与学业成绩无关。总体而言，报告的困扰率高于其他国家的学生。在培训的最后临床年，更高的责任可能导致更高的倦怠和困扰。通过积极的情绪、意义和社会联系来增强积极心理健康可能会最小化倦怠和困扰，尽管课外活动需要时间。需要在斯里兰卡开展减少医学生困扰的干预措施。
