TY - JOUR
T1 - Screening for Undetected Depression in Physician Assistant Students
AU - Cocke, Kenzie D.
AU - Klocko, David J.
AU - Kindratt, Tiffany B.
PY - 2019/6/1
Y1 - 2019/6/1
N2 - PURPOSE: The purpose of this article was to measure and compare depressive symptoms among physician assistant students during didactic and clinical phases. METHODS: Students (n = 123) completed the PHQ-9, and responses were scored in 2 ways (PHQ-2 and PHQ-9). First, submissions were deemed positive and assigned a severity if question 1 or 2 scored 3 or above (PHQ-2 method). Second, all submissions were summed and assigned a severity (PHQ-9 method). RESULTS: Using the PHQ-2 method, 8.13% of students screened positive; using the PHQ-9 method, 98.37% screened positive for at least minimal depression. Almost half (47.15%) of the students reported mild to severe depression. No statistically significant differences were observed in total scores between classes (P = .1849). Statistically significant differences were observed when we examined feeling tired with little energy (P = .0028) and trouble with sleeping (P = .0436). CONCLUSIONS: Implementing routine depression screening of trainees and restricting the number of clinical work hours could help combat increasing fatigue. Earlier intervention and resources for students struggling with depressive symptoms are needed.
AB - PURPOSE: The purpose of this article was to measure and compare depressive symptoms among physician assistant students during didactic and clinical phases. METHODS: Students (n = 123) completed the PHQ-9, and responses were scored in 2 ways (PHQ-2 and PHQ-9). First, submissions were deemed positive and assigned a severity if question 1 or 2 scored 3 or above (PHQ-2 method). Second, all submissions were summed and assigned a severity (PHQ-9 method). RESULTS: Using the PHQ-2 method, 8.13% of students screened positive; using the PHQ-9 method, 98.37% screened positive for at least minimal depression. Almost half (47.15%) of the students reported mild to severe depression. No statistically significant differences were observed in total scores between classes (P = .1849). Statistically significant differences were observed when we examined feeling tired with little energy (P = .0028) and trouble with sleeping (P = .0436). CONCLUSIONS: Implementing routine depression screening of trainees and restricting the number of clinical work hours could help combat increasing fatigue. Earlier intervention and resources for students struggling with depressive symptoms are needed.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85066845650&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85066845650&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1097/JPA.0000000000000247
DO - 10.1097/JPA.0000000000000247
M3 - Article
C2 - 31124810
SN - 1941-9430
VL - 30
SP - 118
EP - 121
JO - The journal of physician assistant education : the official journal of the Physician Assistant Education Association
JF - The journal of physician assistant education : the official journal of the Physician Assistant Education Association
IS - 2
ER -