Linking Immigrants with Nutrition Knowledge (Project LINK): An Innovative Approach to Improve Cultural Competence in Dietetic Education.

Linking Immigrants with Nutrition Knowledge (Project LINK) was a service-learning cultural competence training programme completed by undergraduate dietetic students enrolled in the University of Saskatchewan's (USASK) nutrition and dietetic programme.This paper evaluates the impact of participation in the programme on students' cultural competence. We conducted a cross-sectional survey and qualitative analysis of reflective essays of 107 participants of Project LINK from 2011 to 2014. Cumulative logistic regression models assessed the impact of the intervention on students' cultural competencies. The Akaike information criterion compared models and Spearman correlation coefficient identified possible correlation among pre- and post-intervention data points. Student reflective essays were analyzed by inductive thematic analysis.All cultural competencies improved comparing pre- and post-participation in Project LINK. Odds of increasing one level of student knowledge were 110 times of that prior to Project LINK. Comparing student competencies before and after Project LINK, the odds of increasing one level of students' skills were six times greater, five times greater for increasing one level of students' ability to interact or encounter, and 2.8 times greater for increasing one level of students' attitude.The results of this study indicate Project LINK has successfully increased cultural competence and underscores the importance of combining opportunities for practical experience in addition to classroom-based training on cultural competence.

Stigmatization towards electro convulsive therapy: Impact of practical teaching on medical and nursing students.

BACKGROUND: This study explored the impact of theoretical and practical teaching on electro convulsive therapy (ECT) on medical and nursing students' stigmatizing attitudes towards ECT and representations of it. METHOD: Fourth-year medical students and nursing students answered questions from the Questionnaire on Attitudes and Knowledge of ECT (QuAKE) and from the Mental Illness: Clinicians' Attitudes version 2 (MICA v2) scale. The questionnaires were completed before and after observing a 3-hour practical training session in the ECT unit. The endpoint was the impact of practical training as assessed by MICA and QuAKE scores. Multivariate analyses were used to explore the impact of practical training on MICA and QuAKE total scores. RESULTS: Stigmatizing attitudes and representations of both medical and nursing students towards ECT were reduced after practical training (ß=-4.43 [95% CI -6.15; -2.70] p=0.0001). The impact was greater in medical students (ß=-8.03; 95% CI [-10.71; -5.43], P=0.0001) than in nursing students (ß=-2.77; 95% CI [-4.98; to 0.44], P=0.02). Gender, psychiatric history in close persons, and having already followed a psychiatric/ECT course had no independent impact on stigmatizing attitudes towards ECT and representations of it. CONCLUSION: Practical training in ECT should be given to all health professionals to improve access to it.

Perception and expectation of Moroccan pharmacy students regarding e-learning in the context of COVID-19 pandemic lockdown.

PURPOSE: Online learning, or e-learning, has grown exponentially in recent years, not least because the COVID-19 pandemic has forced many educational establishments to adopt distance learning modalities. In the field of pharmacy, where the acquisition of theoretical and practical knowledge is essential, the adoption of e-learning has attracted particular interest. The aim of this study is to analyze the feedback received by pharmacy students from different faculties in the country following the introduction of new learning methods during the Covid pandemic. METHODS: The study was carried out using a "Google forms" questionnaire, which was sent to students at the country's faculties of pharmacy. The questionnaire included various points, such as a description of the population, preferred mode of distance learning of lectures among students and satisfaction with e-learning. RESULTS: The study involved 176 respondents, 65.9% of whom were women. Around 50% of respondents use e-learning tools more than 6 times a week for educational purposes. Seventy per cent of respondents are satisfied with their e-learning experience, but only 43.2 believe that e-learning has a positive effect on their academic results. Forty-seven per cent of respondents considered the quality of teaching to be the major shortcoming of e-learning, followed by distraction (32%) and the questionable credibility of the diploma (20%). CONCLUSION: E-learning has significant potential to transform teaching and learning in pharmacy, and its thoughtful integration can bring lasting benefits to students.

[Design of an escape game by nursing students, a key to developing skills in educational care]. / Conception d'un escape game par des étudiants infirmiers, une clé du développement de compétences en soins éducatifs.

This article is the shared experience of six student nurses. They look back on their health service experience and explain how their decision to create an escape game for 5th graders was a unique and enriching experience for both the students and themselves. In particular, it enabled them to develop a number of skills that were extremely useful in building their professional identity.

Identifying and Mapping Canadian Dietetic Students' Interaction(s) with Simulation-Based Education: A Scoping Review.

This scoping review mapped literature available on Canadian dietetics, nutrition, and foods students' and graduates' interaction(s) with simulation-based education (SBE) during undergraduate and/or practicum. One certified Librarian led the preliminary search (Summer, 2021), while three Joanna Briggs Institute-trained reviewers conducted the comprehensive search via MEDLINE (OVID), CINAHL (EBSCO), Academic Search Premier (EBSCO), Embase (Elsevier), Scopus (Elsevier), and Google (February 2022). A data extraction tool designed specifically for the study objectives and research inclusion criteria was used. We recorded 354 results and included 7. Seven types of SBE were recorded: (i) comprehensive care plan (n = 2); (ii) nutritional diagnosis/assessment (n = 2); (iii) body composition assessment (n = 1); (iv) introducing patient to dysphagia care (n = 1); (v) nutrition counselling session (n = 1); (vi) nutrition-focused physical examination (n = 1); and (vii) professional communications via social media (n = 1). Results indicate that Canadian dietitian-led SBE includes the use of simulated patients, nutritional diagnosis/assessment, and the creation of comprehensive care plans, among others. Students have been assessed for performance of trained tasks through exams, self-awareness surveys, and interviews, and SBE activities have been evaluated for effectiveness through questionnaires and interviews with users/students. Canadian literature is limited, and more can be learned by exploring the global context within and outside the profession.

An Exploration of Dietetic Students' Experiences in a Noncourse-based Service-Learning Opportunity in a Canadian Academic Setting.

Purpose: To investigate the experiences of dietetic students in a faculty-supervised, noncourse-based service-learning (NSL) opportunity called Nutrition Ignition! (NI!) to understand how NSL activities contribute to dietetic education.Methods: This study used focus group methodology. A convenience sample was recruited from current members of NI!. Participants completed a brief demographic questionnaire and then engaged in a focus group discussion led by a trained moderator who followed a semi-structured guide. Six focus group discussions were transcribed, and a common theme template was developed by researchers.Results: Out of 46 eligible members of NI!, 33 agreed to participate. The main reasons participants joined NI! were to develop professional skills and to help children in the community. Participants discussed many outcomes from their participation in NI!, including enhanced communication skills, especially in terms of knowledge translation; increased ability to be flexible and adapt to "real-world" situations; deeper awareness of the research process; and expanded world view.Conclusion: This study suggests that NSL is an effective way to build dietetic students' personal and professional skills and provide an additional opportunity in academic settings to prepare dietetic students for entry-level practice.

Qualitative Evaluation of University Students' Experience Delivering an Obesity Prevention Programme in Elementary Schools.

The Coordinated Approach to Child Health (CATCH) programme is an accredited obesity prevention programme in the United States, teaching children about nutrition, physical activity, and screen time limits. This study aimed to evaluate the perceptions of undergraduate and graduate student leaders' about their experience delivering the CATCH programme in elementary schools in Northern Illinois school districts during the 2019-2020 school year and its impact on their personal and professional skills and on programme participants. An email questionnaire was sent to eligible students. Grounded theory was used to analyze the students' responses. Two researchers assigned codes to the data and identified themes. Twenty-one students responded (50% response rate). Six identified themes include "purpose of CATCH programme," "school facilities and resources," "university students experience with CATCH lessons and activities," "benefits to university student," "benefits to children and teachers," and "identified weaknesses and suggested improvements to CATCH." University students delivering the CATCH programme appreciated the opportunity to practice in a real-world setting, gained transferable professional skills, increased programme content knowledge, identified CATCH programme benefits/strengths, and planned to apply lessons learned to future practice.

Undergraduate Medical Students' Perceptions of Nutrition Education at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine.

The objective of this evaluation was to determine Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM) undergraduate medical education (UME) students' perceptions of the curriculum related to their nutrition knowledge, attitudes, and counseling self-efficacy/confidence. A 16-item electronic survey (Qualtrics©) was developed, and it included nutrition competency statements, adult and pediatric nutrition assessment and counseling confidence, and nutrition curriculum satisfaction. Students in Years 2, 3, and 4 (n = 192, 66%-73% female) were invited to answer the survey. Of the 61 respondents, 50.8% were Year 2, 34.9% Year 3, and 10.6% Year 4. Overall, 72.1% of the respondents were dissatisfied. Respondents perceived they were least competent in strategies to prevent and treat disease (72.1%), in applying basic dietary strategies (65.6%), and in ethics and nutrition management (62.3%), whereas 52.5% felt competent in the team approach to nutrition care. Respondents reported lowest confidence (less than 10%-15%) in specialized nutrition support, cancer care, renal nutrition, and mental health/eating disorders for both populations. NOSM medical learners reported curriculum dissatisfaction, nutrition incompetence, and poor levels of perceived confidence in nutrition management. Results will be used to inform nutrition curriculum enhancements and future outcome evaluations. Current and future physicians with enhanced nutrition knowledge, awareness of the Registered Dietitian (RD) roles, and an understanding of when to refer patients to an RD can provide better patient-centred care.

Stigmatizing attitudes and social perception towards mental illness among Moroccan medical students.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to explore medical students' attitudes, social perception, and knowledge towards mental illness and identify the associated factors. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Medical Faculty of Fez. A representative sample of 420 Moroccan students from the first to the seventh years was selected randomly during the academic year (2018/2019). They completed the Mental Illness Clinicians Attitudes scale (MICA) and a self-questionnaire exploring sociodemographic data, the university course, social perception and knowledge towards mental illness, and the potential consideration of psychiatry as a career. RESULTS: The average age of participants was 21.73 years (SD ±2.60), and 72.4% (n=304) of respondents were female (M/F gender ratio=0.39). The participants held stigmatizing attitudes and negative social perceptions towards mental illness, as indicated by the high score of the MICA scale (mean=57.24; SD ±9.95). Females (p=0.02) and married students (p=0.02) showed significantly more tolerant attitudes. The attitudes of students (p=0.37) who completed the psychiatry clerkship were slightly more favorable (p=0.15). There was no significant difference in attitudes according to the level of study (p=0.06). Students with a lower socioeconomic level tended to be less stigmatizing (p=0.08). The assessment of knowledge about mental illness among students objectified major gaps. A total of 17.9% (n=75) considered psychiatry as a career. CONCLUSION: The attitudes of medical students in this study were stigmatizing, and this should without delay motivate Moroccan research, educational and health authorities to investigate further scientific research in this area to address these attitudes and remedies.

Impact of education on the knowledge, attitude and practice of disposal of expired and unused medications among pharmacy students.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of education among pharmacy students on their level of knowledge, attitude and practices in the disposal of expired and unused medications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A pre-test post-test study without control group was conducted in which a total of 573 students pursuing Bachelor of Pharmacy and Doctor of Pharmacy programmes were enrolled. The impact of education provided was analysed with the aid of a previously validated KAP questionnaire. Data on KAP was analysed using SPSS software 24.0. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The knowledge, attitude and practice of the total students improved from 74.17±17.063 to 91.06±11.87, 75.92±19.26 to 91.73±12.318 and 43.11±22.77 to 82.06±16.149 respectively. The improvement with respect to knowledge and attitude was significantly high among Doctor of Pharmacy students when compared to Bachelor of Pharmacy, with P value<0.001 for both domains. CONCLUSION: The present study concludes on the effectiveness of educational intervention in generating a positive impact on the student population with respective to adequate disposal practices to be followed for unused and expired medications.

[French translation, cultural adaptation and assessment of preliminary psychometric properties of the Protective Behavioral Strategies for Marijuana Scale]. / Traduction française, adaptation culturelle et évaluation des propriétés psychométriques préliminaires de l'échelle des stratégies de protection comportementale liées à la consommation de cannabis.

OBJECTIVE: Young adults (18- to 24-year-olds) constitute the age group with the highest proportion of cannabis users. In the context of legalization, it is important to promote lower-risk cannabis use. The Protective Behavioral Strategies for Marijuana Scale (PBSM-17) identifies strategies used by consumers. However, this scale is not available in French and is not adapted to the Canadian context. This article presents the process that led to the translation, cultural adaptation and evaluation of the preliminary psychometric properties of PBSM-17. METHOD: The methodological study was carried out in six steps. The first four steps led to the translation towards French and adaptation of the scale. A validation among 12 young people contributed to establish the criterion equivalency (step 5). The evaluation of psychometric properties (step 6) was carried out among 211 bilingual university students (61 % women; mean age 22 years old). RESULTS: The French version presents satisfactory preliminary psychometric properties: internal consistency is acceptable (α = 0.88); criterion equivalency was established between the French and the original English version (t (210) = 1.04, p = 0.30; 95% CI [-0.20, 0.63]). The scores obtained on both versions by the same participant were found to be strongly correlated (r = 0.95, p <0.001). CONCLUSION: The results support the use of the French version of PBSM-17. The proposed protective strategies can be used as a measurement tool and represent behaviors that can be targeted in a lower-risk cannabis use context.

OBJECTIF: Les jeunes de 18 à 24 ans constituent la plus grande proportion de consommateurs de cannabis. Dans un contexte de légalisation de cette substance, il importe de promouvoir une consommation à moindre risque. L'échelle Protective Behavioral Strategies for Marijuana Scale (PBSM-17) permet d'identifier les stratégies de protection comportementale utilisées chez les consommateurs. Toutefois, cette échelle n'est pas disponible en français et n'est pas adaptée au contexte canadien. Cet article présente la démarche ayant mené à la traduction, l'adaptation culturelle et l'évaluation des propriétés psychométriques préliminaires du PBSM-17. MÉTHODE: L'étude méthodologique s'est déroulée en six étapes. Les quatre premières étapes ont mené à la traduction et l'adaptation de l'échelle. La validation auprès de 12 jeunes a permis d'établir l'équivalence conceptuelle. L'évaluation des propriétés psychométriques a été réalisée auprès de 211 étudiants universitaires bilingues (61 % femme; âge moyen 22 ans). RÉSULTATS: La version traduite et adaptée présente des propriétés psychométriques préliminaires satisfaisantes : la cohérence interne est acceptable (α = 0,88); l'équivalence de critères (validité de construit) est établie entre la version française et la version anglaise (t (210) = 1,04, p = 0,30 ; IC 95 % [-0,20, 0,63]). Les scores obtenus aux deux versions par le même participant s'avèrent fortement corrélées (r = 0,95, p < 0,001). CONCLUSION: Les résultats soutiennent l'utilisation de la version française du PBSM-17. Les stratégies de protection proposées peuvent être utilisées comme outil de mesure et représentent des comportements à adopter dans un contexte d'usage du cannabis à moindre risque.

Dietetic Students' Perceptions of Learning Professional Competencies with Four Simulations Throughout a Semester.

In nursing and medicine, taking part in simulation activities has been shown to be beneficial for students' learning; however, little has been documented in dietetics. This study aimed to document the perceived effect of 4 simulations on development of professional competencies by dietetic students. A mixed-method convergent approach was used with pre- and post-questionnaires, interviews, and a focus group discussion to look at dietetic students' perceptions of learning as part of a Nutrition Assessment course. Nonparametric tests for questionnaires and theme analysis for transcripts were used to examine data. After analysis, data were compared and merged for interpretation. Results showed that participants perceived a significant increase in comprehension of various competencies with simulations. In interviews and a focus group, a participant subgroup (n = 7) perceived an enriched understanding of some dietetic competencies compared with pre-simulations. Simulations seemed to have transformed classroom concepts to a more practical understanding of dietetic practice. More studies are needed to identify if these results could be replicated in different settings. Simulations had a positive effect on students' perception of competencies development and may be an andragogical tool of choice to support preparing future dietitians for entry to practice.

[Chronic diseases among medical students in Morocco: What are the interactions with psychosocial stress?] / Les maladies chroniques chez les étudiants en médecine au Maroc : quelles interactions avec le stress psychosocial ?

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the prevalence and factors associated with Chronic psychiatric and somatic illness among medical students in Morocco. METHODS: A multicentric cross-sectional study during a period of four weeks in February 2019 involving 605 students of 1st, 2nd and 3rd cycle of medical studies of the faculties of medicine in Morocco. RESULTS: 41.5% (251) of students confirmed having a chronic disease, among which 80% were under treatment. Psychiatric conditions represented the most frequent chronic illnesses among medical students (28%), followed by dermatological (16%), allergic and respiratory (12.2%), and gastroenterological (11%) conditions. Chronic illnesses among medical students were significantly associated with female gender (P: 0.0000000037), level of education (P: 0.0000), personal history of suicide attempts (P: 0.0000259), and a consumption of psychoactive substances (P: 0.0000029046). CONCLUSION: Chronic illnesses are frequent, underestimated and undertreated among medical students in Morocco. The link with stress has been suggested as the value of establishing a program to train medical students in stress management.

Predictors of sleep quality in medical students during COVID-19 confinement.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to assess sleep quality of Tunisian medical students during home confinement due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and to analyze the relationship between sleep quality and sociodemographic, clinical, confinement-related and psychological variables. METHODS: A correlational cross-sectional study was conducted from April 11th to May 3rd 2020. Medical students who have been in home confinement and who accepted to participate in an online survey were targeted. Sociodemographic data, clinical variables, and data related to home confinement were collected. Participants also completed Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale and Beck Hopelessness Scale. RESULTS: Results showed a high prevalence of poor sleepers among medical students (72.5%) with poor subjective sleep quality, increased sleep latency, sleep disturbances and daytime dysfunction. Multiple regression analysis revealed that family history of suicide attempts, tobacco use, perception of home confinement and reduced physical activity during home confinement significantly contributed to poor sleep quality. Among the psychological variables, anxiety and hopelessness significantly contributed to poor sleep quality in medical students during home confinement. CONCLUSIONS: Results revealed a high prevalence of poor sleep quality in medical students who have been in home confinement due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Except family history of suicide attempts, factors that significantly contributed to poor sleep quality were modifiable factors. Sleep quality and sleep parameters need to be assessed in this particular population and adequate measures aiming to promote quality of sleep need to be enhanced, given the crucial regenerative, homeostatic and psychological roles of sleep.

Medical students and the response to COVID-19: Educational preparedness and psychological impact of their involvement in communicating with patients' relatives.

OBJECTIVES: The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged without precedent both healthcare and educational systems worldwide. How medical students could and should be engaged in the response remains unclear. Medical students were asked to help with communicating with patients' relatives in our institution. Authors aimed: to (i) present the rapid implementation and assessment of a teaching/e-teaching lesson in the COVID-19 era; (ii) report an early evaluation of preparedness, mental health and well-being of students involved. METHODS: The lesson was elaborated at lockdown in France. The clinical guidance consisted of a voluntary lesson entitled: "How to communicate with relatives of hospitalized COVID-19 patients?". Students received an anonymous online questionnaire after two weeks. RESULTS: Sixty-six medical students were trained (32% face-to-face). The response rate was 64%. Most students informed relatives about the routine care of the patient (95%). Concerning the lesson, students assured to have had one (95%), considered it relevant (86%), and had used the educational content (81%). 33% were charged with unexpected missions (only 36% felt prepared). Most of them did not report any psychological impact, but some reported anxiety or sleep disorders with no difference between face-to-face/distance training. CONCLUSIONS: This pandemic may last. Communication ability is a key competence in medical curriculum and is more than ever essential. Distance learning technologies may provide a useful and accepted tool for medical students. We report on a rapid feedback on what can be expected or not from students in terms of mission and short-term psychological consequences.

Medical students' learning processes the first time they role-play in psychiatry: A grounded theory study.

BACKGROUND: Recent changes in psychiatric care and teaching that limit patient contact for medical students can be overcome in part by simulation-based education. Understanding the learning processes of medical students involved in psychiatric simulation-based programmes could usefully inform efforts to improve this teaching. This study explored the learning processes of medical students the first time they role-play in psychiatry. METHODS: We used constructivist grounded theory to analyse semi-structured interviews of 13 purposively sampled medical students and the six psychiatrists who trained them. To improve the triangulation process, the results of this analysis were compared with those of the analyses of the role-play video and the debriefing audio-tapes. RESULTS: Five organising themes emerged: improving the students' immediate perception of patients with mental disorders; cultivating clinical reasoning; managing affect; enhancing skills and attitudes and fostering involvement in learning psychiatry. CONCLUSION: Results suggest that psychiatric role-playing can improve students' progressive understanding of psychiatry through the development of intuition and by allaying affects. Emotional elaboration and student involvement appear to be key features.

Self-reported mental health symptoms, quality of life and coping strategies in French health sciences students during the early stage of the COVID-19 pandemic: An online survey.

INTRODUCTION: Health sciences students usually report high rates of mental health problems. The COVID-19 pandemic context may have serious psychological impacts in this at-risk population. We aimed to assess the self-reported mental health status, health-related quality of life and coping strategies of health sciences students during the early stage of the pandemic. METHOD: An online 128-item questionnaire sent to 17,673 health sciences students from the Claude Bernard University Lyon 1 in April 2020 assessed: a) sociodemographic characteristics, b) conditions of lockdown, c) depressive (Beck Depression Inventory- Short Form, BDI-SF), anxiety (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-A, STAI-A) and traumatic symptoms (Impact of Event Scale -Revised, IES-R), d) health-related quality of life (SF12) and e) coping strategies (Brief Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced, Brief COPE). RESULTS: The participation rate was 9.9% (n=1,765). A total of 19.5% of participants reported an IES-R>33, 11.6% depressive symptoms, 58.1% anxiety symptoms, and 4.4% suicidal ideation. Their mental health-related quality of life was significantly poorer than for physical health. Female gender, COVID-like symptoms, social isolation due to the lockdown, pandemic-related financial restraint and exams-related stress were significantly associated with poorer self-reported mental health conditions. Volunteering in the healthcare system was significantly associated with lower mental health scores. Coping strategies were mostly oriented toward avoidance and positive appraisal. CONCLUSION: French health sciences students exhibited high levels of self-reported mental health problems and a poor mental health-related quality of life during the early stage of the COVID-19 pandemic. Specific risk factors related to the pandemic partly explain the observed prevalence.

[What academic training for pharmacy students for clinical pharmacy? Example of shared medication report]. / Quelle formation académique pour les nouvelles missions de pharmacie clinique à l'officine ? Exemple du bilan partagé de médication du sujet âgé.

OBJECTIVES: In 2018, the implementation of shared medication reports in pharmacy encourages pharmacists to cooperate with other healthcare professionals. This job allows a decrease of medication errors in elderly. This requires a reorganization of the training offered by universities (initial and continuing training). The aim is to present the results of this pedagogical experimentation. METHODS: The experimentation (years 2017-2018 and 2018-2019) required the creation of a course to allow students to carry out a pharmaceutical analysis suitable to elderly people, to set up and carry out a shared medication report in pharmacy. Then, during their 6th year internship, students had to carry out at least one shared medication report per month. A monthly follow-up was organized with a database online. RESULTS: Sixty-four students and 35 internship supervisors participated in the experimentation. All the students improved their ease in using clinical pharmacy tools (pharmaceutical analysis, pharmaceutical interventions, assessment of adherence, etc.). They carried out 345 shared medication reports. In 24.3% of cases, an improvement in the prescription was proposed to the doctor (general practitioner or specialist). For 80% of the internship supervisors, the initial training of the students helped to set up this new pharmacy activity. CONCLUSIONS: This teaching is appreciated by students and internship supervisors. It enabled the adoption of the various tools essential for carrying out shared medication reports in pharmacy. Shared medication reports reinforce the multidisciplinary work of pharmacists, especially with general practitioners.

[Engagement of students enrolled in fifth year of pharmacy studies in their academic or salaried pharmaceutical activities during the first period of lockout due to the COVID-19 pandemic (16th March-11th May 2020)]. / Engagement d'étudiants de cinquième année de pharmacie dans leurs activités pharmaceutiques, académiques et salariées, au cours de la première période de confinement liée à la pandémie de COVID-19 (16 mars­11 mai 2020).

OBJECTIVES: To characterize the engagement of students enrolled in the fifth year of pharmaceutical studies in the management of the health crisis due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and to identify some determinants of this engagement during this period. METHODS: With the health crisis, new missions have been entrusted during hospital internships, whereas certain internship sites were removed in hospitals and as part of the health service organization. In addition, some students who were no longer in internship returned to the hospital setting for helping in critical activities. Student engagement was studied with a questionnaire and focus groups including six or seven students in each group. RESULTS: Forty-three students participated to the study. The answers to the questionnaire highlighted that they were engaged, that they usually did not wait for compensation, and that most of them were satisfied by their activity during the crisis. The thematic analysis demonstrated that despite a feeling of frustration, which was often associated with the interruption of rewarded activities, and despite a stress due to the particular context, student engagement was supported by a better consideration of the pharmacist's role as a professional in public health and by a better acknowledgement of this role by other health professionals. CONCLUSION: This level of engagement is particularly encouraging because it is the witness of the ability of pharmacists to mobilize for general interest, even in adverse context.

[Student's mental health: better measurement and considereration of the challenges]. / La santé mentale des étudiants : mieux prendre la mesure et considérer les enjeux.

Mental health represents a high cost for society, estimated at 109 billion euros per year in France, 80 % of which are indirect costs. Mental diseases start before the age of 24 for 75 % of patients. Students, whose age is predominantly between 18 and 25, are a particularly high-risk population and for whom mental illness can have very serious consequences. The Observatoire de la vie Etudiante surveys from 2016 found a 12 month prevalence of depression of 15 % with suicidal thoughts in 8 % of the students higher than what is observed in the French general population, respectively 10 % and 5 %. The confinement itself and its consequences both economic (unemployment, difficulty for young people to find a job…) and social (isolation) could have a very bad effect on their mental health. The survey made by a governmental organization (Santé Publique France) revealed a significant increase in the prevalence of anxiety disorders at the start of confinement in the general population. This prevalence decreased during confinement but remained significantly higher than in 2017. Economic simulated data indicate that prevention in mental health could not only be effective but also profitable. In France, reimbursement by national health insurance of 12 sessions of psychologists for young people (between 11 to 21) is being tested in order to further and widely implement psychological prevention strategies rather than relying on already widely reimbursed pharmacological treatments. There are, however, several issues to discuss. First of all, is the need to define what psychopathology is considered to be. Then, it should be understood how measures of these concepts are created, how tools are constructed and how they operate in their environment. For depression, many different scales exist and even if the most used one are taken into account, they have very little content or symptoms in common. In addition, for the same scale, many different cut-offs exist to define whether a case should be considered as pathological or not, and so it is with the period of time studied being considered that may vary, both leading to consequences such as the differences observed in prevalence. Other biases should also be considered such as the age of the participants, the gender, the size of the sample, the response rate, the method of assessment and recruitment. Finally, it is necessary to question the assumptions and models used concerning the causes of psychic pathologies. Biological hypotheses on the origin of depression involve genetics and inflammation, but sociological and psychological factors must also be considered as well as the underlying complexity both in their nature and interactions at different structural levels of space and time. We should avoid drifting towards a biological or a sociological reductionism and move forward through complex systems approaches and models. With regard to student mental health in France, unfortunately, quality data are still lacking, and existing studies are difficult to compare as some may also have methodological issues. This article leads to the conclusion that there is a need for policies to assess student mental health at both local and national levels with a reflexional thinking on the tools and scales to use as measurements of these phenomena. This approach does not require being too assertive, but should have full transparency on the way the measures were designed and obtained. Measures are as much needed as are the needs for coordinated prevention and care in mental health.