Students Study Skills and Depression: A Randomised Controlled Study in a Large Medical School
Description
Abstract: Purpose : The burden of depression among medical students is rising and it extends to future practice, influencing patient safety and care. To enhance the educational experiences of medical students, it is vital to explore ways to reduce the impact of depressive symptoms on learning and mental health. This study sought to assess the impact of a study skills course (intervention) on the rate and severity of depressive symptoms. Introduction Higher education introduces students to new social environments for example increasing academic pressures that could lead to stress, anxiety, and depression. Ultimately, these ailments can negatively impact student performance and progress. Many health college students commonly experienceexperience mental health issues; depression being the most prevalent Methods : A rarndomised controlled educational trial was conducted on 3rd year medical students, of King Saud University, in the period between January 2022 and May 2022. The Study Skill Inventory (SSI) was used to assess students’ study skills and the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) for depressive symptoms of participants in the control and intervention groups, before and after the intervention, i.e., the study skills course. In addition to descriptive statistics, mean ranks of the pre-post test scores of the intervention and control groups were compared using Mann Whitney-U and Wilcoxon sign rank tests as appropriate. Results : Of the 69 medical students who took part in the study, 36 were randomly assigned to the intervention group, while 27 and 34 students filled out the pre-intervention and the post-intervention students’ satisfaction survey of their study habits, respectively. No statistically significant differences were observed in the PHQ-9 and SSI scores between the intervention and control groups, both pre and post the study skills course. Around 76.5% of students assessed the course as good or excellent and found the course meeting their expectations (62%). Conclusion : This study revealed no statistically significant improvement in depressive symptoms following the study skills course. It is recommended for future similar studies to implement interventions in a course that counts for students’ grade or at least to administer the study skills learning intervention before the crowded formal curriculum starts. Keywords : Medical student, online course, impact, emotional well-being, study habit, PHQ-9 A meticulous design is paramount when planning any interventional study that involves medical students students, and the study should guarantee an optimal uptake of the intervention. This may be achieved by either making the course mandatory or carrying out the study skills course before formal learning in the school. A meticulous design is paramount when planning any interventional study that involves medical students students, and the study should guarantee an optimal uptake of the intervention.