General Health Status of Medical Students During COVID-19 Pandemic and Relevant Factors in Medical Students of Arak University of Medical Sciences in 2021

Abstract

Background and aims: The present study examined the general health status following the COVID-19 pandemic and relevant parameters among internship and externship medical students. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 400 externship and internship medical students at Arak University of Medical Sciences in 2021 were recruited, to whom the 28-item general health questionnaire developed by Goldberg was administered. In the questionnaire, 23 is considered the cut-off point, and higher scores indicate worse general health. The data were statistically analyzed using SPSS version 23.0. Results: The mean general health score was 25.24±9.71, and the prevalence of general health disorders was 51%. The results represented no significant difference between the externship and internship students concerning the total general health score and subscales of somatic symptoms, anxiety and insomnia, and social dysfunction. However, interns had a significantly higher depression score compared to externs (P=0.029). Age, gender, marital status, history of COVID-19, and residence status were not statistically significantly related to the general health score. Conclusion: More than half of the interns and externs at Arak University of Medical Sciences developed general health disorders during the COVID-19 outbreak. The results revealed no significant relationship between the total score of general health and gender, age, marital, residence, and COVID-19 status.