Sains Malaysiana 42(3)(2013): 423–428

Psychological Distress of First Year Medical Students Who Underwent Two Different Admission Processes During a Stressful Period

(Distres Psikologi dalam Kalangan Pelajar Perubatan Tahun Pertama yang Melalui

Dua Proses Kemasukan Berbeza Semasa Tempoh yang Tertekan)

Muhamad Saiful Bahri Yusoff* & Ahmad Fuad Abdul Rahim

Department of Medical Education, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia

16150 Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia

Abdul Aziz Baba & Shaiful Bahari Ismail

Dean Office, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 16150 Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia

Hatta Sidi

Department of Psychiatry Department, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre

56000 Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Ab Rahman Esa

Public Health, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin

20400 Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu, Malaysia

Received: 11 July 2012/Accepted: 3 Ogos 2012

ABSTRACT

The study of medicine is often regarded by students as a stressful environment particularly during examination period. Studies found a high percentage of medical students experience significant psychological distress during the examination period. This study compared percentage and level of psychological distress between two batches of first year medical students who underwent different selection admission processes during a stressful examination period. A comparative cross-sectional study was done on two batches of first year medical students; one group selected based on academic merit (2008/2009 batch) and the other selected based on academic merit, psychometric tests and interview (2009/2010 batch). The psychological distress was measured by the 12-item general health questionnaire (GHQ-12). The data were collected right after the final examinations. A total of 99 (46.05%) medical students of the 2008/2009 batch and 196 (100%) medical students of the 2009/2010 batch participated. The percentage of medical students who had psychological distress of the 2008/2009 and the 2009/2010 batches were 58.59% and 42.3%, respectively. The mean GHQ-12 score and percentage of psychological distress were significantly different between the two batches (p< 0.01). The older batch had 2.01 times higher risk for developing psychological distress compared with the newer batch (p< 0.01). The newer batch of medical students had better psychological health status and was less likely to develop psychological distress during the stressful period compared with older batch.

Keyword: Medical student; medicine; mental health; psychological health; student admission

ABSTRAK

Pengajian perubatan sering dianggap oleh pelajar sebagai persekitaran yang tertekan terutamanya semasa tempoh peperiksaan. Kajian mendapati peratusan yang tinggi dalam kalangan pelajar-pelajar perubatan mengalami tekanan psikologi yang ketara sepanjang tempoh peperiksaan. Kajian ini membandingkan peratusan dan tahap tekanan psikologi antara dua kumpulan pelajar tahun pertama perubatan yang menjalani proses pemilihan kemasukan yang berbeza sepanjang tempoh peperiksaan yang sukar. Satu kajian perbandingan keratan rentas telah dilakukan ke atas dua kumpulan pelajar tahun pertama perubatan; satu kumpulan dipilih berdasarkan merit akademik (kumpulan 2008/2009) dan yang lain dipilih berdasarkan merit akademik, ujian psikometrik dan temu duga (kumpulan 2009/2010). Tekanan psikologi telah diukur menggunakan soal selidik kesihatan am 12-item (GHQ-12). Data telah dikumpulkan sejurus selepas peperiksaan akhir. Sebanyak 99 (46.05%) pelajar perubatan bagi kumpulan 2008/2009 dan 196 (100%) pelajar perubatan bagi kumpulan 2009/2010 telah mengambil bahagian. Peratusan pelajar perubatan mempunyai tekanan psikologi bagi kumpulan 2008/2009 dan 2009/2010 adalah masing-masing 58.59% dan 42.3%. Purata skor GHQ-12 dan peratusan tekanan psikologi adalah jauh berbeza antara kedua-dua kumpulan (p<0.01). Kumpulan terdahulu mempunyai 2.01 kali lebih tinggi risiko untuk mengalami tekanan psikologi berbanding dengan kumpulan baru (p<0.01). Pelajar-pelajar perubatan daripada kumpulan baru mempunyai status kesihatan psikologi yang lebih baik dan adalah kurang berkemungkinan untuk mengalami tekanan psikologi dalam keadaan tertekan berbanding dengan kumpulan terdahulu.

Kata kunci: Kemasukan pelajar; kesihatan mental; kesihatan psikologi; pelajar perubatan; perubatan

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*Corresponding author; email: msaiful@kb.usm.my