Karabacak Mert, Kose Ekin Beyza, Bahadir Zeynep, Demirel Yagmur, Mutlu Elif Busra, Ozcan Zeynep, Ozkara Burak Berksu
Department of Neurosurgery, Mount Sinai Health System, New York, USA.
Faculty of Medicine, Trakya University, Edirne, Turkey.
Can Med Educ J. 2024 Jul 12;15(3):37-44. doi: 10.36834/cmej.77088. eCollection 2024 Jul.
Medical students experience high levels of stress due to their rigorous training, which can negatively affect their mental health. This study aimed to investigate substance use habits of medical students at Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa and the association on their mental health and demographic factors.
This cross-sectional survey study was conducted in March-April 2022 among preclinical medical students (years 1-3 of a 6-year program). A confidential, anonymous online survey consisting of four sections on sociodemographic and educational characteristics, nicotine use and dependence [Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND)], alcohol use [Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT)], mental health status [12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12)], was distributed to 1131 students via WhatsApp and Telegram text messages. Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal Wallis tests compared variables' distribution in the questionnaire categories. Spearman's correlation assessed associations between scales. Significance was < 0.05.
The study included 190 medical students. A total of 26.3% of the participants were smokers, with 8.4% showing moderate to high levels of nicotine dependence. An estimated 45.8% and 8.4%reported low-risk consumption and risky usage of alcohol, respectively. There were statistically significant associations between substance use and demographic factors such as sex, GPA, and religious belief. The study found a statistically significant correlation between FTND scores and GHQ-12 scores, and, between FTND scores and AUDIT scores.
The findings of this study will inform the development of interventions to improve the mental health and academic performance of medical students at Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa. Furthermore, it will raise awareness about the importance of addressing substance use among medical students in Turkey.
医学生因其严格的训练而承受着高水平的压力，这会对他们的心理健康产生负面影响。本研究旨在调查伊斯坦布尔大学-切拉帕夏分校医学生的物质使用习惯及其与心理健康和人口统计学因素的关联。
这项横断面调查研究于2022年3月至4月对临床前医学生（6年制课程的第1至3年）进行。通过WhatsApp和Telegram短信向1131名学生分发了一份保密、匿名的在线调查问卷，该问卷包括四个部分，涉及社会人口统计学和教育特征、尼古丁使用与依赖[尼古丁依赖Fagerström测试（FTND）]、酒精使用[酒精使用障碍识别测试（AUDIT）]、心理健康状况[12项一般健康问卷（GHQ-12）]。Mann-Whitney U检验和Kruskal Wallis检验比较了问卷类别中变量的分布情况。Spearman相关性评估了各量表之间的关联。显著性水平为<0.05。
该研究纳入了190名医学生。共有26.3%的参与者吸烟，其中8.4%表现出中度至高度的尼古丁依赖。估计分别有45.8%和8.4%的参与者报告了低风险饮酒和危险饮酒情况。物质使用与性别、平均绩点和宗教信仰等人口统计学因素之间存在统计学上的显著关联。研究发现FTND分数与GHQ-12分数之间以及FTND分数与AUDIT分数之间存在统计学上的显著相关性。
本研究的结果将为制定干预措施提供参考，以改善伊斯坦布尔大学-切拉帕夏分校医学生的心理健康和学业成绩。此外，它将提高人们对解决土耳其医学生物质使用问题重要性的认识。
