Prevalence of Depressive Symptoms in Medical Residents of a Pediatric Hospital in Ecuador
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61708/8hx21t35Keywords:
Depression, Medical Residencies, Patient Health Questionnaire, Suicidal IdeationAbstract
Mental health in medical residencies is a topic scarcely reviewed in the Ecuadorian literature, although there is research that shows the prevalence of depression in international investigations. For this reason, through a quantitative, descriptive observational cross-sectional approach using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). The aim was to find the prevalence of depressive symptomatology in this population. Fifty-five medical residencies enrolled in postgraduate courses in general pediatrics and pediatric surgery were evaluated, where the expected prevalence was 25%, with a precision of 5% and a 95% confidence interval (CI), obtaining a minimum sample of 47 cases to find an effect in the study. The results of the PHQ-9 indicate that 61.9% present symptoms corresponding to mild to moderate depression. In addition, 20% (11 persons) reported indicators related to suicidal ideation. We recommend primary care for residents, incorporating mental health talks parallel to the introductory training to the postgraduate course and the socialization of the routes in cases of suffering from this symptomatology.
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