Dataset Information

Association Between Perceived Medical School Diversity Climate and Change in Depressive Symptoms Among Medical Students: A Report from the Medical Student CHANGE Study.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

To determine whether perceptions of the medical school diversity climate are associated with depression symptoms among medical students.

Methods

Longitudinal web-based survey conducted in the fall of 2010 and spring of 2014 administered to a national sample of medical students enrolled in 49 schools across the U.S. (n = 3756). Negative diversity climate measured by perceptions of the institution's racial climate; exposure to negative role modeling by medical educators; frequency of witnessing discrimination in medical school. Depression symptoms measured by the PROMIS Emotional Distress-Depression Short-Form.

Results

64% of students reported a negative racial climate; 81% reported witnessing discrimination toward other students at least once, and 94% reported witnessing negative role modeling. Negative racial climate, witnessed discrimination, and negative role modeling were independently and significantly associated with an increase in depression symptoms between baseline and follow-up. Adjusting for students' personal experiences of mistreatment, associations between depressive symptoms and negative racial climate and negative role modeling, remained significant (.72 [.51-.93]; .33 [.12-.54], respectively).

Conclusions

Among medical students, greater exposure to a negative medical school diversity climate was associated with an increase in self-reported depressive symptoms.

SUBMITTER: Hardeman RR

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5171227 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Winter

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Association Between Perceived Medical School Diversity Climate and Change in Depressive Symptoms Among Medical Students: A Report from the Medical Student CHANGE Study.

Hardeman Rachel R RR Przedworski Julia M JM Burke Sara S Burgess Diana J DJ Perry Sylvia S Phelan Sean S Dovidio John F JF van Ryn Michelle M

Journal of the National Medical Association 20160924 4

<h4>Purpose</h4>To determine whether perceptions of the medical school diversity climate are associated with depression symptoms among medical students.<h4>Methods</h4>Longitudinal web-based survey conducted in the fall of 2010 and spring of 2014 administered to a national sample of medical students enrolled in 49 schools across the U.S. (n = 3756). Negative diversity climate measured by perceptions of the institution's racial climate; exposure to negative role modeling by medical educators; fre ...[more]

PMID: 27979008

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Project description:BackgroundAny curriculum change is essentially an environmental change; therefore there is a need to assess the impact of any change in the curriculum on the students' perception of the Educational Environment (EE) and psychological well-being. The objectives of the current study are to (i) compare the EE perceptions of medical students studying in a System Based Curriculum (SBC) with those studying in a traditional curriculum (ii) compare the rate of depressive symptoms among the same students studying in both types of curricula (iii) determine whether there is a difference in the EE perception and depressive symptoms based on gender and year of study.MethodsA cross sectional survey was conducted in a Saudi Medical School from 2007-2011, a period in which the school transitioned from a traditional to a SBC. A bilingual version of the Dundee Ready Educational Environment Measure (DREEM) inventory was used for measuring the EE; the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI II) was used for screening of depressive symptoms. A separate demographic questionnaire was also used. Mean scores and percentages were calculated. Continuous variables were summarized as means and standard deviation. For comparison of means, the effect size and student t test (with significance level of <0.05) were used. The percentages of the categorical data were compared using chi square test.ResultsThe mean total DREEM score of positive perception of the EE in the SBC students was significantly higher (better) than the traditional curriculum students (p < 0.01) with an effect size of 0.472. The mean total score on the BDI-II inventory for depressive symptoms was higher (sicker) 21.3 among the female traditional curriculum students than 16.7 among the male traditional curriculum students and the difference was statistically significant (p = 0.001). The BDI score of the female SBC students (14.7) was significantly lower (healthier) than the female traditional curriculum students (21.3). No similar change was noted for the male students.ConclusionThe current study adds to the advantages of the SBC indicating not only healthier EE for both genders but also healthier emotional well-being for female students only.

Project description:BackgroundDepressive symptoms and burnout are common among medical students. However, few studies have investigated their trajectory over the course of medical school.ObjectiveEvaluate year-by-year changes in depressive and burnout symptoms over the course of medical school training.DesignProspective study.ParticipantsMedical students who matriculated at a private medical school in Maryland from 2010 to 2016 (n=758).Main measuresClinically significant depressive symptoms were defined as a score of ≥10 on the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), and burnout was measured using the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI). High emotional exhaustion, high depersonalization, and low personal accomplishment were defined as scores of ≥ 27, ≥10, and ≤33 on the respective MBI subscales.Key resultsAt matriculation, the prevalences of significant depressive symptoms, high emotional exhaustion, high depersonalization, and low personal accomplishment were 4.3%, 9.4%, 8.6%, and 37.7%, respectively. After adjustment for age, sex, race/ethnicity, marital status, and cohort, compared with year 1, the odds of significant depressive symptoms was significantly higher at the beginning of the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th years of study (ORs=2.63, 2.85, and 3.77, respectively; all ps<0.001). Compared with the 1st year, the odds of high emotional exhaustion also increased during the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th years of study, (ORs=3.46, 4.79, 8.20, respectively; all ps<0.001), as did the odds of high depersonalization (ORs=3.55, 6.14, 12.53, respectively; all ps<0.001). The odds of low personal accomplishment did not significantly differ across years of study.ConclusionsThe results of this study suggest that symptoms of depression and burnout may increase during medical school. Because of the high prevalence of depressive symptoms and burnout in medical students, interventions earlier in the medical career pathway that aim to prevent, detect, and treat these symptoms may be of benefit to the physician community.

Dataset Information

Association Between Perceived Medical School Diversity Climate and Change in Depressive Symptoms Among Medical Students: A Report from the Medical Student CHANGE Study.

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Association Between Perceived Medical School Diversity Climate and Change in Depressive Symptoms Among Medical Students: A Report from the Medical Student CHANGE Study.

Similar Datasets

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