Distress and coping in third year, 2020–2201 Portuguese medicine students

Abstract

Background Medical students are often exposed to stressors, studies showing that one third of them suffers from depression, a larger figure then the general population and more vulnerable to stress comparing to other courses’ students. The use of coping strategies when medical students are in distress must be studied and then discussed with students. Methods Prospective cohort analytical study with two points in time evaluation, in a quasi-random sample, representative of the 3rd year students in the 2020/2021 school year. An epidemiological survey, Patient Health Questionnaire–4 (PHQ-4) and BRIEF-COPE were applied. In between evaluations results were presented two discussions and motivational interventions being made. Results In samples of n = 101 3rd year students in September, and n = 112 students in November students’ distress by PHQ-4 (P < 0.001), was worst in November and ‘Expression of feelings’ (P = 0.004) was more used in November in Brief-Cope questionnaire use. Increased use of coping strategies ‘Expression of feelings’ (P = 0.004) and ‘Planning’ (P = 0.045) and a decrease of ‘Substances abuse’ (P = 0.020) were found from September to November. A significant distress increase was verified in such period of time (P < 0.001). In November significant weak positive correlation, between the level of distress and the items in BRIEF-COPE, for the strategies ‘Use emotional support’, ‘Positive reinterpretation’, ‘Acceptance’, ‘Self-distraction’ and ‘Substance use’ and a significant negative correlation in the items ‘Plan’, ‘Self-blame’, ‘Behavioural divestment’ and ‘Humour’ were found. Conclusions A noteworthy rise in distress was found. Students significantly altered some coping tactics even though distress increased. These findings are troublesome and deserve further studies and attention.