Factors associated with medical students’ quality of life in a Brazilian northeast countryside university

Abstract

Abstract: Introduction: The current policy of interiorization of medical education worldwide and the application of active methods, as well as the lack of consensus regarding the factors associated with medical students’ quality of life are topics of discussion in the medical literature. Objective: In view of the scarcity of analyses on the subject, this study aimed to evaluate the topictopic at a medical school in a Brazilian northeast countryside university. Method: Cross-sectional study, developed from March to May of 2018. The questionnaire WHOQOL-bref was used to evaluate the quality of life and the data were related to: sociodemographic characteristics, anthropometric data and lifestyle. Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics; then, a bivariate analysis was performed with a test for comparison of mean scores aimed to identify possible variables associated with the investigated domains. Binary logistic regression was performed to identify possible factors associated with poor quality of life in the investigated domains. The statistical analysis estimated 95% CI and p-value <0.05. Results: The present study characterized the students’ quality of life and identified the following factors as being associated with poor quality of life: female gender, attending preclinical years, being a smoker, having normal weight classified according to the body mass index, having a negative assessment of their own health and quality of life. The results also showed that most students had a negative evaluation regarding the physical, psychological and environmental domains; in contrast to the social relationships domain, in which most reported a positive assessment. Conclusion: The findings allow discussions about measures aimed at dealing with factors that affect the quality of life of medical students attending medical schools located in remote and rural regions.