Prevalencia de la depresión y factores relacionados en estudiantes de externado de medicina Azogues, agosto - diciembre, 2024

Abstract

Background: Depression is one of the most common and debilitating psychological disorders worldwide, particularly prevalent among medical students. Its impact can seriously compromise the effectiveness and well-being of future healthcare professionals, motivating the need to investigate its prevalence and characteristics. Objective: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of depression and its possible relationship with sociodemographic variables among medical externship students in Azogues during the period August–December 2024. Methodology: Quantitative study with a descriptive approach and a current cross-sectional design. The study population consisted of 132 medical externship students from the Catholic University of Cuenca, Azogues Campus. A survey technique was conducted using a questionnaire that included sociodemographic variables and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II). The results are presented in tables, and variable associations were analyzed using contingency tables and chi-square statistics with a significance level of 0.05. Results: Fifty-eight point three percent of the students are female, 40.9% are 24 years old, 90.2% are single, and 81.1% live in urban areas. A total of 36.4% showed severe depression, while 25.8% had moderate depression. None of the sociodemographic variables were significant for the Beck Depression Inventory scale in the sample of externship students (p > 0.05). Conclusions and Relevance: This study highlights a concerning prevalence of severe depression among medical students in Azogues, suggesting an urgent need for specific mental health interventions to improve their well-being and academic performance, regardless of sociodemographic variables. Keywords: depression, externship, medicine, anxiety, mental health