A study on Psychological distress among Post–graduates and Junior Doctors in medical colleges, India

Dr. Murali Mohan K.T.K; Dr.N.Vetrivel; Dr. Vasudev Tulasi; Dr. Prem Singh. D; Dr. Shashidhar. G; Dr. Dhoolipala Dharmateja

Volume : VIII, Issue : VI, June - 2018

A study on Psychological distress among Post–graduates and Junior Doctors in medical colleges, India

Dr. Murali Mohan K. T. K, Dr. N. Vetrivel, Dr. Vasudev Tulasi, Dr. Prem Singh. D, Dr. Shashidhar. G, Dr. Dhoolipala Dharmateja

Abstract :

Background:–This is a well known fact that medical education in India is quite stressful, right from the beginning of preparation for pre medical test till completion of post graduation and post doctoral course, a medical student undergoes a highly competitive environment. They suffer unacceptably high levels of psychiatric illness, depression and suicide, dependence on alcohol and drug abuse.

Aims and objective:–The aim of the study was to know how far the Postgraduate students and junior doctors were under psychological distress related to their work. For this a cross sectional study was conducted on junior doctors in VCSG medical college, Srinagar, Uttarakhand and post graduate medical students from NRI medical college, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh. MVJ Medical College, Hoskote and J.S.S. Medical college Mysore in Karnataka by a self–administered General Health Questionnaire (GHQ–12) as a tool for assessment of psychological distress.

Observations: – Among the 105 doctors who participated, the first group of 25 were junior doctors from Government Medical college, Srikot, Uttarkhand and other 55 were Post graduate students from private medical colleges in Karnataka in South India and 20 were postgraduate students from NRI Medical College, Guntur Andhra Pradesh. Those who scored above12 points in GHQ–12 questionnaire measured on Likert Scale were considered positive for psychological distress.

Conclusions: Of the 105 resident doctors who participated in the study questionnaire, Among the four medical colleges, the MVJ medical postgraduates had a higher prevalence of distress (60%) than the junior resident doctors of Uttarakhand . There is statistically no significant difference in distress between the two sexes from allcolleges put together.