Assessment of depression among medical students between Medical Education Center and University Hospital.

Abstract

Background  :  The depression was correlated to cognitive decline and impaired functions.

Objective : This study aims to compare the prevalence rate of depression and associated factors among 6^th year medical students from difference training programs at Maharaj Nakhon Sri Thammarat Hospital.

 Material  and Methods:   50 medical students were recruited on a voluntary basis at Maharaj Nakhon Sri Thammarat Hospital. 26 medical students (52%) were from Medical Education Center (MEC) and 24 medical students (48%) were from University Hospital (UH). Thai Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression was used to assess depression in this study. Wilcoxon rank-sum test and Fisher's exact test were used for data analysis.

Results: Female was 60 %. Prevalence rate of depression was 16% (6% from UH and 10% from MEC).  Mild depression was 10% (8% from UH). Moderate depression was 2% (totally from MEC).   Severe depression was 4% (totally from UH). There was no statistical difference in prevalence rate of depression among 6^th year medical students who were trained from MEC or UH (p-value = 0.7).   Supervision by a senior doctor was significantly associated with depression (p-value = 0.024).   Burning out and wanting to resign from the training was significantly associated with depression (p-value = 0.03). Not impression in staff was significantly associated with depression (p-value = 0.044) where as accommodation facility was borderline associated with depression (p- value = 0.049).

Conclusion :  The prevalence rate of depression in 6^th year medical students is 16%.  There was no difference of depression among 6^th medical students between MEC and UH.