Safety and Health at Work Vol. 13 Supplement 1 2022
Are mental health problems in prospective healthcare students increasing? A retrospective analysis of the prevalence of mental health problems amongst university applicants to healthcare courses
Dublin Core
Title
Safety and Health at Work Vol. 13 Supplement 1 2022
Are mental health problems in prospective healthcare students increasing? A retrospective analysis of the prevalence of mental health problems amongst university applicants to healthcare courses
Are mental health problems in prospective healthcare students increasing? A retrospective analysis of the prevalence of mental health problems amongst university applicants to healthcare courses
Subject
Mental health, healthcare students
Description
Objective: This study was conducted at an occupational health unit in a UK University. The primary aims were to establish whether the prevalence and complexity of mental health conditions amongst
prospective healthcare students is increasing. The secondary aim was to consider the implications to occupational health resourcing.
Methods: Data was collected retrospectively for the years 2017– 2020 across four courses, Midwifery, Adult, Mental Health and Child Nursing. Students declaring mental health conditions were categorised by complexity and the need for occupational physician input to determine fitness for studies. Data on occupational health referrals relating to mental health concerns during studies was also gathered.
Results: 2045 students were included of which 644 declared a mental health condition. An increasing prevalence of mental health conditions was seen from 24.3% in 2017 to 37.7% in 2020 (p=0.01). Similarly, the proportion of students with high complexity conditions increased from 3.8% in 2017 to 13.6% in 2020 (p=0.03). The most frequently declared mental health conditions were anxiety and depression (74.8%), eating disorders (7.0%) and post-natal depression (5.9%). The prevalence of eating disorders was noted to have doubled between 2017 to 2020.
Conclusion: This study has demonstrated an increasing prevalence
and complexity of mental health conditions. There is a requirement
for increased occupational health provision to ensure prospective
healthcare students are adequately assessed prior to commencing
studies. Further research would be valuable to confirm the results of
this single centre study.
prospective healthcare students is increasing. The secondary aim was to consider the implications to occupational health resourcing.
Methods: Data was collected retrospectively for the years 2017– 2020 across four courses, Midwifery, Adult, Mental Health and Child Nursing. Students declaring mental health conditions were categorised by complexity and the need for occupational physician input to determine fitness for studies. Data on occupational health referrals relating to mental health concerns during studies was also gathered.
Results: 2045 students were included of which 644 declared a mental health condition. An increasing prevalence of mental health conditions was seen from 24.3% in 2017 to 37.7% in 2020 (p=0.01). Similarly, the proportion of students with high complexity conditions increased from 3.8% in 2017 to 13.6% in 2020 (p=0.03). The most frequently declared mental health conditions were anxiety and depression (74.8%), eating disorders (7.0%) and post-natal depression (5.9%). The prevalence of eating disorders was noted to have doubled between 2017 to 2020.
Conclusion: This study has demonstrated an increasing prevalence
and complexity of mental health conditions. There is a requirement
for increased occupational health provision to ensure prospective
healthcare students are adequately assessed prior to commencing
studies. Further research would be valuable to confirm the results of
this single centre study.
Creator
Sunita Babu
Publisher
Elsevier Korea LLC
Date
January 2022
Contributor
Sri Wahyuni
Format
PDF
Language
English
Type
Text
Coverage
Safety and Health at Work Vol. 13 Supplement 1 2022
Files
Citation
Sunita Babu, “Safety and Health at Work Vol. 13 Supplement 1 2022
Are mental health problems in prospective healthcare students increasing? A retrospective analysis of the prevalence of mental health problems amongst university applicants to healthcare courses,” Repository Horizon University Indonesia, accessed November 21, 2024, https://repository.horizon.ac.id/items/show/2344.
Are mental health problems in prospective healthcare students increasing? A retrospective analysis of the prevalence of mental health problems amongst university applicants to healthcare courses,” Repository Horizon University Indonesia, accessed November 21, 2024, https://repository.horizon.ac.id/items/show/2344.