Quality of Life and Minor Mental Disorders of the Medical Students at the University Center of Caratinga (UNEC) - Minas Gerais

Abstract:

Introduction:

The quality of life of medical students has long been the object of interest and research, since, due to the stress inherent to the course, this population is vulnerable to mental disorders affecting their quality of life. Knowing about the medical students’ quality of life and general mental health, as well as the related factors, is critical to support actions improving the medical students’ learning process. To evaluate the medical students’ Quality of Life (and related factors) at the University Center of Caratinga (UNEC). Method: This descriptive, cross-sectional and quantitative study was conducted through a self-administered questionnaire containing questions on sociodemographic data, quality of life (WHOQOL) and general mental health (Goldberg’s QSG). A total of 94 medical students at UNEC - Caratinga, Minas Gerais, Brazil were divided into three groups, namely, G1 (1^styear), with 32 students, G2 (3^rdyear), with 30 students, and G3 (5^thyear), with 32 students, who were analyzed through descriptive analysis, with the use of tools such as Chi-square test, Pearson’s correlation, Student’s t-test and/or Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). Cluster analysis was performed at the statistical significance of a 5% probability. Results: Students perceive their quality of life as good. The domain of social relations obtained the highest score, and the psychological domain reached the lowest score. There was no significant difference in quality of life and general mental health, in the different periods of the course. A significant correlation was observed between general mental health (QSG) and quality of life factors, wherein a worse state of general mental health is associated with a lower quality of life. The incidence of minor mental disorders detected in the sample under analysis was of 41.5% among the students, of which the highest-scoring disorder was psychic stress (64.1%), and the lowest one death wish (39.8%). Conclusion: The analyzed medical students have a good perception of their quality of life. The course level (years at medical school) had no significant influence. The minor mental disorders in the population under study influences the quality of life. The results indicate the need for qualitative studies to acquire more information about the QOL of UNEC students.

Keywords:
Quality of Life; Medical Students; Mental Health; Medical Education