Impacts of COVID-19 on the mental health of graduate students in the health area of a university in Ceará, Brazil
Abstract
Graduate students experience an environment of intense demands. The COVID-19 pandemic caused the suspension of face-to-face academic activities, affecting the daily lives of these people. This study aimed to analyze the impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of stricto sensu graduate students in the health area of a public university in Ceará regardind the use of antidepressant and anxiolytic drugs. This cross-sectional, descriptive study uses a remote questionnaire from August 2021 to February 2022.
Socio-demographic, clinical, medication use, and data from the “Self-Report Questionnaire” test were collected. 217 master’s and doctoral students participated in the study, most of them female (71%), between 21 and 30 years old (55.3%) and without children (76.5%). The results showed an increase in the number of graduate students with symptoms of anxiety and/or depression after the pandemic (23.4%). Among the main symptoms, there is a strong indication of mental suffering (60.4%), nervousness, tension or concern (77.9%), sadness (55.3%), difficulties in carrying out daily activities with satisfaction (55.4%), and tiredness (65%). These symptoms were most prevalent among women. Regarding medication use (anxiolytics/antidepressants), 38.2% responded positively. Of these, 40.9% increased the dosage, and 79.5% experienced adverse reactions. In this way, the COVID-19 pandemic negatively affected graduate students’ mental health, reinforcing the need for universities to develop strategies to mitigate these students’ emotional suffering.
Socio-demographic, clinical, medication use, and data from the “Self-Report Questionnaire” test were collected. 217 master’s and doctoral students participated in the study, most of them female (71%), between 21 and 30 years old (55.3%) and without children (76.5%). The results showed an increase in the number of graduate students with symptoms of anxiety and/or depression after the pandemic (23.4%). Among the main symptoms, there is a strong indication of mental suffering (60.4%), nervousness, tension or concern (77.9%), sadness (55.3%), difficulties in carrying out daily activities with satisfaction (55.4%), and tiredness (65%). These symptoms were most prevalent among women. Regarding medication use (anxiolytics/antidepressants), 38.2% responded positively. Of these, 40.9% increased the dosage, and 79.5% experienced adverse reactions. In this way, the COVID-19 pandemic negatively affected graduate students’ mental health, reinforcing the need for universities to develop strategies to mitigate these students’ emotional suffering.
Keywords
pharmaceutical intervention, prescription, rational use of medicines, hospital
Full Text:
PDF (Português (Brasil))DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.14450/2318-9312.v35.e1.a2023.pp52-63
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Copyright (c) 2023 Kelly Rose Tavares Neves, SOPHIA de Oliveira Martins, KARISIA CALDAS TAVARES, Gislei Frota Aragão
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Infarma - Ciências Farmacêuticas
ISSN - 2318-9312 (Versão eletrônica)
ISSN - 0104-0219 (Versão impressa)
Conselho Federal de Farmácia - CFF
SHIS QI 15 Lote "L" - Lago Sul - Brasília - DF
CEP: 71635-615 - Fone: (61)3878-8751
e-mail:infarma@cff.org.br
Diretoria
Walter da Silva Jorge João, Presidente do Conselho Federal de Farmácia
Lenira da Silva Costa, Vice-Presidente do Conselho Federal de Farmácia
João Samuel de Morais Meira, Tesoureiro do Conselho Federal de Farmácia
Luiz Gustavo de Freitas Pires, Secretário-Geral do Conselho Federal de Farmácia