The Psychological Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Faculty and Medical College Students in Karachi, Pakistan: A Cross-Sectional Study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63735/baqa.v26i2.41-50Keywords:
COVID-19, Psychological Impact, Mental Health, Medical Students, Medical Faculty, Stress, Anxiety, Depression, PakistanAbstract
Objective: This study aimed to investigate how common stress, anxiety, and depression were among medical students and faculty in Karachi, Pakistan, during the COVID-19 pandemic, and to explore their connections with various demographic characteristics.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from July 2021 to April 2022 using a cluster sampling technique. Participants from various medical colleges in Karachi were invited to complete an online Google Form. The questionnaire collected demographic data and utilized three validated scales: the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) for stress, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) for anxiety, and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) for depression. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25.0.
Results: Analysis of 300 complete responses revealed a high prevalence of psychological distress among the academic population: 78.0% reported moderate-to-high stress, 58.3% exhibited moderate-to-severe anxiety, and 49.7% reported moderate-to-severe depression. Students demonstrated statistically significant elevations in both anxiety (p<0.05) and depression (p<0.05) compared to faculty members. Multivariable analysis identified several key correlates of heightened psychological distress, including female gender, student status, dissatisfaction with academic progress, and the experience of losing a friend or family member to COVID-19.
Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound psychological impact on the medical academic community in Karachi, with alarmingly high rates of stress, anxiety, and depression, particularly among students. These findings underscore the urgent need for medical institutions to implement the potential mental health support programs and crisis intervention strategies in order to ensure the well-being of both students as well as faculty members.
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