Demographic risk factors for suicide and depression among Serbian medical school students.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to identify demographic risk factors associated with depression and suicidality among medical school students in Serbia, as well as to determine the prevalence of symptoms of depression and suicide attempts in the student population. METHOD: This was a cross-sectional study conducted on the sample of 1,296 students recruited from the School of Medicine, University of Belgrade. Following questionnaires were assigned to participating subjects: PHQ-9, Suicide Behaviors Questionnaire, and Social-demographic survey. RESULTS: PHQ-9 scores in our sample ranged from 0 to 27, averaging at 6.21 (SD = 4.96). Symptoms of depression were associated with grade point average, age, relationship status, and gender. Reported history of suicide attempts was associated with PHQ-9 scores, grade point average, relationship status, gender, history of mental illness and drug use. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that medical school students in Serbia may be considered an "at-risk" population. Preventative programs in the future should target symptoms of depression and should provide students with adequate mechanisms to cope successfully with school-related pressure. Alternative stress management strategies may also be useful, especially for younger students who seem to be at greater risk for depression and suicide.

Self-medication practices and risk factors for self-medication among medical students in Belgrade, Serbia.

INTRODUCTION: Self-medication among future health care professionals can represent a serious threat to professionalism in medicine and it has potential to put at risk public trust into this profession. The aim of this research was to investigate prevalence and risk factors for self-medication among population of medical students, because it was previously shown that their attitudes towards pharmacotherapy could affect the way they could prescribe medication in the future. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Research was performed as a cross-sectional study and it included 1296 (84.1%) 1st, 3rd and 6th year students of School of Medicine, University of Belgrade. Students filled out a demographic and self-medication questionnaire created for the purpose of this research and the Physical Health Questionnaire - 9 (PHQ-9). Questions about self-medication were related to the period of the previous year. RESULTS: Self-medication was reported by 79.9% students. The most frequently self-prescribed medications were analgesics (55.4%). Independent risk factors for self-medication were possession of home-pharmacies (OR = 5.3, CI 95% 3.89-7.23), lower level of father's education (OR = 1.6, CI 95% 1.18-2.25), consumption of alcoholic beverages (OR = 1.5, CI 95% 1.13-2.08), less than 1 hour spent in physical activity per week (OR = 1.4, CI 95% 1.00-2.02), female gender (OR = 1.4, CI 95% 1.02-1.89), older age (OR = 1.1, CI 95% 1.07-1.21) and higher PHQ-9 score (OR = 1.09, CI 95% 1.05-1.12). CONCLUSIONS: Self-medication is an important issue among population of medical students. Prevalence of self-medication could be controlled through regulatory authorities and further education.