Wellbeing and mental health amongst medical students from Hong Kong. (17th November 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chau, Steven W. H.; Lewis, Thomas; Ng, Roger; Chen, Julie Y.; Farrell, Sarah Marie; Molodynski, Andrew; Bhugra, Dinesh
• Is Part Of: International review of psychiatry. Volume 31:Number 7/8(2019)
• Page Start: 626
• Page End: 629
• Publication Date: 2019-11-17
• Subjects: Medical students -- mental health -- wellbeing -- burnout -- Hong Kong; Mental illness -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; Psychology, Pathological -- Periodicals; 616.89
• DOI: 10.1080/09540261.2019.1679976
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0954-0261

Abstract

Abstract: Medical students are a known high-risk group for mental health issues. This study aimed to survey the psychological well-being of medical students from Hong Kong, a known stressful city. This study is part of a wider effort to compare the psychological well-being of medical students world-wide. We invited medical students from Hong Kong to complete a self-report questionnaire online. The questionnaire included questions on demographics, known mental health issues, sources of psychological stress, and substance use. It also included the cut-annoyed-guilty-eye (CAGE) questionnaire, Short-Form General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), and the Oldenburg Burnout Inventory (OLBI). There were 123 responses. Our results suggest high levels of psychological morbidity and distress among medical students in Hong Kong. 87% screened positive for minor psychiatric disorders on the GHQ-12 and 95% met OLBI thresholds for burnout. Female respondents demonstrated significantly higher mean GHQ-12 scores than male. Despite the apparent high prevalence of mental ill-health in this population, only 15% of respondents reported receiving professional help.