INVESTIGATING MEDICAL STUDENTS’ HEALTH CONCERNS DURING THEIR ACADEMIC STUDIES

Abstract

The aim of the study is to identify medical students’ opinion regarding their health and thoughts related to their physical health in relation to their clinical practice. Material and methods: medical students enrolled in all years of study (from 1 to 6) answered to an online questionnaire. Socio-demographic, family, academic and health-related data were gathered. A series of items focused on students’ opinion about physical health in relationship with the completion of their practical stages in different clinics. Dietary habits and lifestyle data were also collected. Statistical data were analyzed using SPSS v.21. Results: 220 students aged M = 21.92 ± 1.96 (19 to 32 years old), 2/3 living in urban area. 9.5% of them had a chronic disease. In the case of 5% of students, both parents were working abroad. 5% of respondents declared that they consumed drugs or psychotropic substances. 1/5 are smokers and 1/3 drink coffee daily. Students reported an average of 6.73 (±1.09) hours of sleep per night. Almost half of them were tense during clinical hours (48.2%). 20% of the students strongly agreed with the fact that they were always preoccupied with their health. 53,2% used supplements seasonally to improve their health. More than half of the students were afraid of developing cancer (53.2%), followed by diabetes (6.8%) and 58.6% claimed that they always have hand sanitizer on them. Conclusions: Medical education is a long and demanding academic training when different aspects influence students’ psychological, physical and social health .The contact with patients, the knowledge about illness, suffering and dying, determines the individuals to deal with objective or imaginative fears and explaining this phenomenon has positive consequences for the personal and professional life of the future medical doctor.