Factors associated with obsessive-compulsive symptoms in medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic in Peru: a cross-sectional study

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17843/rpmesp.2024.413.13592

Keywords:

COVID-19, Medical Students, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Mental Health

Abstract

Objectives. To determine the prevalence of obsessive-compulsive symptoms among medical students in
Peru during the COVID-19 pandemic and its associated factors. Materials and methods. Cross-sectional study in 270 medical students from a Peruvian public university. Participants were recruited through non-probability sampling. Obsessive-compulsive symptoms were assessed with the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Scale (Y-BOCS). After the descriptive analysis, Poisson regression with robust variance was used to determine the factors associated with probable obsessive compulsive disorder (probable OCD). The crude (PRc) and adjusted (PRa) prevalence ratios were calculated, along with their respective 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). Results. The prevalence of obsessive-compulsive symptoms was 13.3% in medical students. During bivariate analysis, students with probable OCD were younger (p=0.044) and had a lower level of knowledge about COVID-19 (p=0.045). The crude model showed a lower prevalence of probable OCD among those with an adequate level of knowledge compared to those with an inadequate level (PR: 0.52, 95% CI: 0.28 to 0.98). However, after adjusting for other variables, none of the described variables were statistically significant. Conclusions. One in ten medical students presented clinically significant obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Implementing future interventions is crucial to preserve the mental well-being of this vulnerable population.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Kumar U. Post-COVID-19 sequelae. Indian Journal of Respiratory Care. 2021;10(4):60. doi: 10.4103/IJRC.IJRC_30_21.

Peramo-Álvarez FP, López-Zúñiga MÁ, López-Ruz MÁ. Secuelas médicas de la COVID-19. Med Clin. 2022;157(8):388. doi: 10.1016/J.MEDCLI.2021.04.023

Zheng Y, Xiao L, Xie Y, Wang H, Wang G. Prevalence and Characteristics of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Among Urban Residents in Wuhan During the Stage of Regular Control of Coronavirus Disease-19 Epidemic. Front Psychiatry. 2020;11(594167). doi: 10.3389/FPSYT.2020.594167.

Knowles KA, Olatunji BO. Anxiety and safety behavior usage during the COVID-19 pandemic: The prospective role of contamination fear. J Anxiety Disord. 2021;77(102323). doi: 10.1016/J.JANXDIS.2020.102323.

Abuhmaidan Y, Al-Majali S. The impact of the coronavirus pandemic on mental health among al ain university students in light of some demographic variables. Psychiatr Danub. 2020;32(4):482. doi: 10.24869/psyd.2020.482.

Chen B, Sun J, Feng Y. How Have COVID-19 Isolation Policies Affected Young People’s Mental Health? - Evidence From Chinese College

Students. Front Psychol. 2020;11. doi: 10.3389/FPSYG.2020.01529.

Jiang R. Knowledge, attitudes and mental health of university students during the COVID-19 pandemic in China. Child Youth Serv Rev.

;119. doi: 10.1016/J.CHILDYOUTH.2020.105494.

Ji G, Wei W, Yue K, Li H, Shi L, Ma J, et al. Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms Among University

Students: Prospective Cohort Survey Study. J Med Internet Res. 2020;22(9). doi: 10.2196/21915.

Yacila GA, Cook-Del Aguila L, Sanchez-Castro AE, Reyes-Bossio M, Tejada RA. Traducción y adaptación cultural del Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) para trastornos obsesivos compulsivos. Acta Med Peru. 2016;33(3):253–8. doi: 10.35663/amp.2016.333.125.

Storch EA, Larson MJ, Price LH, Rasmussen SA, Murphy TK, Goodman WK. Psychometric analysis of the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale Second Edition Symptom Checklist. J Anxiety Disord. 2010;24(6):650–6. doi: 10.1016/J.JANXDIS.2010.04.010.

Arora A, Chauhan A, Dhonge S, Pandey N, Dinesh A. Prevalence of obsessive-Compulsive symptoms and the level of fear due to

COVID-19 pandemic among the undergraduate medical students in a tertiary care unit in Southern India. Indian J Public Health. 2022;66(Supplement):76. doi: 10.4103/IJPH.IJPH_1066_22.

Sal y Rosas H, Vega Dienstmaier J, Mazzotti Suárez G, Vidal H, Guimas B, Adrianzén C, et al. Validación de una versión en español de la escala yale-brown para el trastorno obsesivo-compulsivo. Actas Esp Psiquiatr. 2002;30(1);30–5. Disponible en: https://pesquisa.bvsalud.org/portal/resource/pt/ibc-10377.

Mejia C, Rodríguez-Alarcón F, Carbajal M, Sifuentes-Rosales J, Campos-Urbina A, Charri J, et al. Validación de una escala breve para la

medición del nivel de conocimientos básicos acerca del Coronavirus, Perú (KNOW-P-COVID-19). Kasmera. 2020;48(1):e48106042020–

e48106042020. doi: 10.5281/ZENODO.3827988.

Aftab M, Abadi AM, Nahar S, Ahmed RA, Mahmood SE, Madaan M, et al. COVID-19 Pandemic Affects the Medical Students’ Learning

Process and Assaults Their Psychological Wellbeing. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021;18(11). doi: 10.3390/IJERPH18115792.

Taher TMJ, Al-fadhul SAL, Abutiheen AA. Prevalence of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) among Iraqi undergraduate medical

students in time of COVID-19 pandemic. Middle East Curr Psychiatry. 2021;28(8). doi: 10.1186/s43045-021-00086-9.

Zurlo MC, Vallone F, Cattaneo Della Volta MF. Perceived Past and Current COVID-19-Stressors, Coping Strategies and Psychological Health among University Students: A Mediated-Moderated Model. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;19(16). doi: 10.3390/IJERPH191610443.

Wang Z, Jiang B, Wang X, Niu Y, Xue H. Cross-sectional investigation and correlation analysis of psychology of college students returning to campus after COVID-19 lockdown lift. Front Psychiatry. 2022;13. doi: 10.3389/FPSYT.2022.915042.

Mazhar K, Khaliq F, Arshad D, Mcewan C, Dunn L, Harvey J. Association of COVID 19 pandemic with new onset Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) symptomology in the medical students – A cross sectional study. BJPsych Open. 2021;7(S1):S270–S270. doi: 10.1192/BJO.2021.7.

Published

2024-09-03

Issue

Section

Original Article

How to Cite

1.
Barzola-Farfán WA, Ocampo-Zegarra JC. Factors associated with obsessive-compulsive symptoms in medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic in Peru: a cross-sectional study. Rev Peru Med Exp Salud Publica [Internet]. 2024 Sep. 3 [cited 2024 Dec. 6];41(3):259-65. Available from: https://rpmesp.ins.gob.pe/index.php/rpmesp/article/view/13592