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COVID-19 pandemic's impact on French Health Students: A cross-sectional study during the third wave
Ariel Frajerman1, Franck Rolland2, Bruno Falissard2
1MOODS Team, INSERM U1178, CESP, Université Paris-Saclay, Faculté de Médecine Paris- Saclay, Le Kremlin Bicêtre, F-94275, France; Service Hospitalo-Universitaire de Psychiatrie de Bicêtre, Mood Center Paris Saclay, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpitaux Universitaires Paris-Saclay, Hôpital de Bicêtre, F-94275, France; Institute of Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Paris (IPNP), Université Paris Cité, INSERM U1266, F-75014 Paris, France.
Background:
COVID19 pandemic had a huge impact on global mental health. Health students, because of their age and status, are a more at-risk population. National survey during the first wave already found high levels of psychological distress.
Objective:
This nationwide study aimed to assess health's student mental health during the third wave in France.
Methods:
We did an online national cross-sectional study, which addressed all health students from April 4th to May 11th 2021. The questionnaire included sociodemographic and work conditions questions, Kessler 6 scale, and numeric scales.
Results:
16,937 students answered, including 54% nurse and 16% medical students. Regarding K6 scale, 14% have moderate (8-12) and 83% high (≥13) level of psychological distress. In multivariate analysis, being a man (OR = 0.54, 95% CI [0.48; 0.60], p < 0.001) and not living alone (OR = 0.71, 95% CI [0.62; 0.82], p < 0.001), are associated with a reduced risk of psychological distress. Not having the ability to isolate themselves (OR = 1.58, 95% CI [1.39; 1.81], p < 0.001), and having low (OR = 2.31, 95% CI [2.08; 2.56], p < 0.001) or important (OR = 4.58, 95% CI [3.98; 5.29], p < 0.001) financial difficulties are associated with an increased risk of psychological distress.
Limitations:
The response rate was low regarding the target population (300,000 health students).
Conclusion:
Compared to the first national survey, we noticed mental health deterioration. Psychological distress (83% high level versus 21%), substance use (21% versus 13%), and psychotropic treatment use (18% versus 7.3%) hugely increased. These results highlighted the need to increase support actions for health students.
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