Graduandos e residentes de medicina e de enfermagem: consumo de álcool, depressão, ansiedade, estresse e enfrentamento

Abstract

There are many studies about health professionals’ mental health, since it may impair not only their wellbeing but also their practice. This study had the following objectives: a) to identify among medical and nurse students from FAMERP (Medical School of São José do Rio Preto) and FUNFARME (Hospital de Base): prevalence of alcohol intake; depression, anxiety and stress symptoms; stress coping strategies; to assess self-esteem. b) To identify prevalence of alcohol use by medical and nursing residents from Hospital de Base, São José do Rio Preto. c) To describe characteristics of students seeing at FAMERP´s Unity of Psychological and Pedagogical Counseling (SOPPA) from 2005 to 2012. Participants: Students – 216 students, 102 medical (1st to 6th year) and 114 nursing (1st to 6th year). Residents: 50 medical and 19 nursing residents. Students from SOPPA: psychological records (n=316) from 2005 to 2012 were analyzed. Methods: cross sectional quantitative study performed from June/2009 to December/2010. Results: Students – the majority of students were female (82.4%) with mean age of 21. Alcohol consumption (AUDIT/Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, drinking style, quantity and frequency of alcohol drinking during last month) showed that on the last 30 days 69% consumed between one and eight doses of alcohol. More than half (61%) consumed one or more than eight doses per weekend. The majority (69%) reported drinking from once a month to three to four times a week. More than half (61%) consumed from one to more than eight doses during weekends. The majority is on Risk one (Moderate drinking), followed by Risk 2 and 3 (Risk and High Risk). Most students did not report using alcohol as a coping strategy. The majority had minimal symptoms of depression that were more common among females. The majority also presented stress symptoms (predominantly psychological symptoms and resistance phase). Self-esteem was high for both medical and nursing students. Residents: use alcohol as strategy for coping with stress. Students from SOPPA: from 316 students receiving psychological care in the period, 146 completed treatment and were discharged, and 170 abandoned treatment. The majority searched treatment spontaneously. Main complains were anxiety, depression and low academic performance. Conclusion: Graduation students –the majority of the students doesn´t use alcohol as a way of coping with problems; is on Risk 1 for drinking (moderate drinking), present psychological symptoms of stress, few depression and anxiety symptoms and have adequate self-esteem. Residents - use alcohol as a strategy to cope with stress. Students from SOPPA: main complains were anxiety, depression and academic performance.