Medical students’ disease. Truth or myth? Literature review

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Abstract

Aim. Based on the literature data to assess the prevalence of such a phenomenon as hypochondriacal disorder of a medical student (medical student’s disease, 3rd year disease), to consider the methods of its research, to show the structure and relationship of the phenomenon with some data.

Methods. The material was searched in the databases Google Scholar, PubMed, eLIBRARY.ru. In addition, the publications included in the lists of used literature sources of thematic reviews were reviewed. The review included studies in English published no earlier than January 1, 2010 and no later than January 1, 2020.

Results. The review included 15 studies, in which a total of 6470 people participated. The phenomenon was evaluated using scales and questionnaires evaluating health anxiety: MSD perception scale, MSD distress scale, HAQ, SHAI, AnTI, EES, WI, HHSB, Cyberchondria Severity Scale. The results on some scales were different for students of different courses. The number of requests for medical care also varied depending on the year of study. Data on the greater severity of hypochondriac disorders in medical students than in other students were contradictory. The relationship of the phenomenon with gender was statistically insignificant. Most students use the Internet to search for information about suspected symptoms. Indicators of cyberchondria in medical students were lower than in students of other specialties. More than other diseases, students are afraid of cancer, diseases of the cardiovascular system, injuries and diabetes. Students with addiction scored higher on the SHAI, the MSD distress scale.

Conclusions. The average prevalence of hypochondriasis when using validated research methods was 18.25%. There are a large number of questionnaires and scales to assess this phenomenon. Most of the latest research refutes the fact that the hypochondriasis of medical students is significantly higher than that of other students. The cognitive-perceptual component of the phenomenon was more pronounced in senior years, while the emotional-anxiety component was more pronounced in junior years

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About the authors

Vadim R. Gashkarimov

Bashkir State Medical University

Author for correspondence.
Email: gashkarimov@yandex.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0001-9944-141X
Russian Federation, 450008, Ufa, Lenin str., 3

Azat R. Asadullin

Bashkir State Medical University; Republican Narcological Dispansary No. 2

Email: droar@yandex.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0001-7148-4485
SPIN-code: 3740-7843
ResearcherId: A-7168-2018

доктор медицинских наук, профессор кафедры психиатрии и наркологии с курсом ИДПО; главный врач Республиканского наркологического диспансера № 2.

Russian Federation, 450008, Ufa, Lenin str., 3; 453102, Sterlitamak, Tolbuhina str., 8

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