Anxiety among medical students and junior doctors in Denmark

Dan Med J. 2022 Sep 29;69(11):A03220162.

Abstract

Introduction: International studies document that medical education and the transition from student to medical doctor may be a stressful and difficult time. High anxiety levels impact professional performance and quality of life. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of anxiety among Danish final-semester medical students and newly graduated medical doctors, including individual changes.

Methods: This was a descriptive cohort and cross-sectional study based on a questionnaire given to medical students and newly graduated doctors between December 2020 and May 2021. The survey used the following validated anxiety scales: the Leeds Self-assessment of Anxiety scale and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. The data were analysed for medical students and doctors as cross-sectional analyses.

Results: A total of 175 medical students and 65 newly graduated doctors were included; 20 participated in both surveys. We found that 54 (32.5%) of the medical students and 12 (19.4%) of the newly graduated doctors scored pathologically anxious (p = 0.06). The measured anxiety level was higher than the anxiety level found in the background populations from other studies. Anxiety was related to gender and to previous treatment for stress or anxiety and it persisted from student life into life as a young doctor.

Conclusion: A high proportion of the medical students reported anxiety, a condition which remained among the young doctors.

Funding: The Emergency Medicine Research Unit, Odense University Hospital, Denmark.

Trial registration: not relevant.

MeSH terms

  • Anxiety / epidemiology
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Denmark / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Quality of Life
  • Students, Medical*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires