Unmediated connection of mental health decline and suicide among medical and nonmedical undergraduates during the pandemic of COVID-19: A cross-sectional comparative study

  • Sadaf Konain Ansari, Dr M.Islam Medical and Dental College, Gujranwala
  • Sadia Yasir Khan, Dr Islamabad Medical and Dental College, Islamabad
  • Farkhanda Jabeen, Dr M.Islam Medical and Dental College, Gujranwala
  • Areeba Riaz, Dr M.Islam Medical and Dental College, Gujranwala
  • Ali Hamza Cheema, Dr M.Islam Medical and Dental College, Gujranwala
Keywords: Anxiety, Depression, COVID-19 suicide, COVID-19 fear, COVID-19 stress, Mental health

Abstract

Background and Objectives: All medicine and healthcare undergraduates were encountered with terminations and delays of professional examinations. These alterations were on topmost of other tasks the COVID-19 pandemic carried out for instance not roaming, covered faces with masks and specifically segregation. This interruption of normal life was a major cause of mental health disaster and it is no surprise that medicine and healthcare undergraduate has had high rates of psychological effects including hopelessness, stress and suicidal thoughts. This study aimed to investigate the unmediated connection of anxiety and stress related mental health decline and suicide among medical and nonmedical undergraduates during the pandemic of covid-19.

Methods: A multidiscipline online cross-sectional comparative study design was chosen for this study conducted from November 2020 to January 2021 with a pre-validated questionnaire to collect responses from sample size 1290. SPSS- 21 used for descriptive analysis of means, S.D, ANOVA and spearman’s correlations. Forward step-wise model of linear regression applies for true significant bivariate relationship (p<.001)

Results: The result shows that all three cohorts were affected. Among the non-medical cohorts, B-Pharmacy students had the high level (p<.001) of anxiety with suicide ideation response (n=200; 39.2%), along with lowest level of envisions care (19.5%; p<.001) in pandemic. Control and independent variable had a strong negative effects on B-Pharmacy and medical students with p<.000.

Conclusions: This study offered more data that the concerns, anxieties and uncertainties caused by pandemic COVID-19, don’t roll out alone but remain as long-lasting problems demanding ongoing attention.

doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.38.5.5686

How to cite this:
Ansari SK, Khan SY, Jabeen F, Riaz A, Cheema AH. Unmediated connection of mental health decline and suicide among medical and nonmedical undergraduates during the pandemic of COVID-19: A cross-sectional comparative study. Pak J Med Sci. 2022;38(5):1093-1100. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.38.5.5686

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Author Biographies

Sadaf Konain Ansari, Dr, M.Islam Medical and Dental College, Gujranwala

She was an  Assistant Professor and head Department of Medical Education (DME) in M. Islam Medical and Dental College, (M.IMDC) Gujranwala. She was a faculty member,  researcher, and the Director of Quality Enhancement Cell Committee (QECC), as well as Curriculum and Organization Committee at M.IMDC, Gujranwala.  Her ORCID is 0000-0003-2333-1251. And her Contact info  are : cell number: 00923015552033, email: sdf_ansari@yahoo.com

Sadia Yasir Khan, Dr, Islamabad Medical and Dental College, Islamabad

She had done her MPH in COM.MED. and  was a senior lecturer in Community Medicine Department at IMDC, and already had three publication in national and international journals.

Farkhanda Jabeen, Dr, M.Islam Medical and Dental College, Gujranwala

She had done her MPH in COM. MED. and was an Assistant Professor in Community medicine department at M.IMDC, Gujranwala.

Areeba Riaz, Dr, M.Islam Medical and Dental College, Gujranwala

Shw was a young demmonstrator in Community medicine department at M.IMDC, Gujranwala.

Ali Hamza Cheema, Dr, M.Islam Medical and Dental College, Gujranwala

He was a young demonstrator in Pharmacology Department at M.IMDC. He had done his PLAB-1 and preparing for his PLAB-2 exam.

Published
2022-05-16
How to Cite
Ansari, S. K., Khan, S. Y., Jabeen, F., Riaz, A., & Cheema, A. H. (2022). Unmediated connection of mental health decline and suicide among medical and nonmedical undergraduates during the pandemic of COVID-19: A cross-sectional comparative study. Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences, 38(5). https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.38.5.5686
Section
Original Articles