Family Medicine & Primary Care Review

Abstract

3/2022 vol. 24
Original paper

Mental well-being among students of selected medical universities in Poland. The role of a family physician

MAŁGORZATA KOZIARSKA-ROŚCISZEWSKA 1
,
KAROLINA TCHÓRZEWSKA 2
,
JAKUB TCHÓRZEWSKI 2
,
PIOTR ROŚCISZEWSKI 3
,
MAŁGORZATA WIDAWSKA 4
,
KAROLINA KOPACZ 5
,
MAGDALENA FRONCZEK 6
,
JACEK RYSZ 1
  1. Nephrology, Hypertension and Family Medicine Department, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland
  2. Family Medicine Students’ Association, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland
  3. Vitaplus Medical Centre, Lodz, Poland
  4. District Sanitary–Epidemiological Station in Radomsko, Radomsko, Poland
  5. “DynamoLab” Academic Laboratory of Movement and Human Physical Performance, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland
  6. Department of Health Sciences, Medical University of Mazovia, Warsaw, Poland
Family Medicine & Primary Care Review 2022; 24(3): 237–244
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5114/fmpcr.2022.118282
Online publish date: 2022/10/03
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Background

Based on available literature and the practices of primary care physicians, it has been observed that young adults have increasing levels of stress and mental health disorders, which worsens their quality of life. Medical students are a special group due to their stressful studies.

Objectives

An assessment of the well-being of students at selected medical universities in Poland. Determining the role of a family physician in this respect. Increasing awareness of mental health among both students as well as family physicians.

Material and methods

Students of medical faculties (medicine, nursing, pharmacy, emergency medicine) at selected universities in Poland. Form of the survey – an anonymous online questionnaire. The data collected was statistically analysed using STATISTICA v. 13 (StatSoft Inc, USA).

Results

20% of the respondents described their mental condition as good. Anxiety disorders were reported by 52%, sleep disorders by 75%, eating disorders by 46%, and 15% of the participants have been diagnosed with depression. 86% of the students consumed alcohol, and 73% did not use medical help.

Conclusions

Students at selected Polish medical universities report high levels of stress. Many of them have developed anxiety disorders, sleep disorders and depression during the course of their studies. Measures should be taken to raise awareness of the prevalence of mental disorders among students by both students and family physicians. Family physicians should pay particular attention to the mental health of medical students.

Keywords

depression, students, family physicians, mental health

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