Anxiety, Stress and Depression among Dental Students during Final Unified Central Exams in Iraq

Abbood , Hadeel Mohammed; Rajab , Muthenna Shaban

doi:10.58827/721267cnlyov

Article Details

Anxiety, Stress and Depression among Dental Students during Final Unified Central Exams in Iraq

Authors:

Abbood , Hadeel Mohammed | Rajab , Muthenna Shaban

Publisher:

Iraqi Association for Oral Research

Main Topics:

Education | Medicine

Journal:

Journal of Oral and Dental Research 2024 Vol.11 Issue 2, pp.1-7

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

12/2024

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

270838

Frequency:

Annual

pISSN:

23106417

DOI:

10.58827/721267cnlyov

Descriptors:

Keywords:

Abstract:

 Background Studying dentistry is known to be stressful for students, due to the highly demanding type of study. In the academic year 2021\2022, the Iraqi Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research launched a unified central exam (UCE) for dental and pharmaceutical students in all Iraqi universities. Objectives This study aimed to assess the level of anxiety, stress, and depression associated with this new exam system. Materials and Methods Depression, anxiety and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) was used in an Arabic version. This tool was uploaded online and sent to the dental students in Tikrit University immediately after the UCE and once again after an ordinary exam. Descriptive statistical analysis and ordinal regression were conducted. Results 258 students participated in this study. 64.4% were females. Extremely severe anxiety was reported higher with statistically significant results in UCE among year 2 and 5 dental students (p-value 0.007 and 0.024, respectively). Stress was statistically significant among final-year dental students in the UCE compared to the ordinary exam (p-value= 0.033). Around 41% of the dental students showed extremely severe depression regardless of the exam type they sat. Conclusion An increase in negative emotions was noticed among dental students. Anxiety and stress were noticed among those students more after sitting the UCE compared to the ordinary exam. However, depression was prevalent among dental students in general regardless of the type of exam. It is recommended to consider and support the mental health among dental students.

Article Details

Anxiety, Stress and Depression among Dental Students during Final Unified Central Exams in Iraq

Authors:

Abbood , Hadeel Mohammed | Rajab , Muthenna Shaban

Publisher:

Iraqi Association for Oral Research

Main Topics:

Education | Medicine

Journal:

Journal of Oral and Dental Research 2024 Vol.11 Issue 2, pp.1-7

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

12/2024

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

270838

Frequency:

Annual

pISSN:

23106417

DOI:

10.58827/721267cnlyov

Descriptors:

DENTISTRY

STUDENTS

ANXIETY

EXAMINATIONS

DENTAL SCHOOLS

IRAQ

DASS-21

Dental students

Anxiety

Stress

Depression

Undergraduate dental students

Issues

Article Details

Authors: Abbood , Hadeel Mohammed | Rajab , Muthenna Shaban

Publisher: Iraqi Association for Oral Research

Main Topics: Education | Medicine

Journal: Journal of Oral and Dental Research 2024 Vol.11 Issue 2, pp.1-7

Document Type: Article

Publication Date: 12/2024

Document Language: English

Document ID (Org No.): 270838

Frequency: Annual

pISSN: 23106417

DOI: 10.58827/721267cnlyov

Descriptors:

Issues

Authors:

Abbood , Hadeel Mohammed | Rajab , Muthenna Shaban

Publisher:

Iraqi Association for Oral Research

Main Topics:

Education | Medicine

Journal:

Journal of Oral and Dental Research 2024 Vol.11 Issue 2, pp.1-7

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

12/2024

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

270838

Frequency:

Annual

pISSN:

23106417

DOI:

10.58827/721267cnlyov