ArticleThe South African journal of psychiatry : SAJP : the journal of the Society of Psychiatrists of South Africa2019
Depressive symptoms and associated factors in medical interns at a tertiary hospital.
Article in The South African journal of psychiatry : SAJP : the journal of the Society of Psychiatrists of South Africa, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 10 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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10 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 32 citations in OpenAlex.
- Healthcare Professionals' Own Experiences of Domestic Violence and Abuse: A Meta-Analysis of Prevalence and Systematic Review of Risk Markers and Consequences.Trauma, violence & abuse · 2023Pooled it
- Not ready in the ways that count- a qualitative exploration of junior doctor's perceived preparedness for practice using Legitimation Code Theory.Advances in health sciences education : theory and practice · 2025Article
- Readiness for the Realities of Internship: An Ethnographic Study Using Legitimation Code Theory.Perspectives on medical education · 2025Article
- The challenges of medical students in their internship : a qualitative study from Iran.BMC research notes · 2024Article
- Examining Anxiety and Insomnia in Internship Students and Their Association with Internet Gaming Disorder.Journal of clinical medicine · 2024Article
- Depression and Burnout among Health Extension Workers in Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study.Ethiopian journal of health sciences · 2023Article
- Study of burnout and depressive symptoms in doctors at a central level, state hospital.The South African journal of psychiatry : SAJP : the journal of the Society of Psychiatrists of South Africa · 2023Article
- Job stress and job involvement among tertiary interns: the buffering role of perceived coworker support.Heliyon · 2022Article
- Validity of self-reporting depression in the Tabari cohort study population.Neuropsychopharmacology reports · 2020Article
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4 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.
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No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundIt is known that medical doctors suffer from increased rates of depression with medical interns being most at risk. Despite this, little is known about the prevalence of depression in interns in South Africa.
objectivesThis study aimed to assess the prevalence of depressive symptoms in interns employed at Groote Schuur Hospital, a tertiary hospital in the Western Cape.
methodThe study was a cross-sectional study. All 91 interns were invited to participate in the study and consenting interns were required to complete a demographic and related questionnaire and the Beck Depression Inventory 2 (BDI-2).
resultsFifty-four (59.3%) of all invited interns participated in the study. Twenty-two interns (40.7%) reported a BDI-2 score of 14 or greater, indicating at least mild self-reported symptoms of depression. Features associated with a BDI-2 score of 14 or greater, included female gender, a previous diagnosis of depression, seeing a psychotherapist and previously being on antidepressant medication during internship. Other features also significantly associated with higher BDI-2 scores included suicidal ideation, thoughts of emigration, wanting to leave medicine and using substances to cope. The most significant associated feature of high BDI-2 scores was a subjective feeling of being 'burnt out'.
conclusionInterns had a higher prevalence of depressive symptoms when compared to the general population. The feeling of being 'burnt out' was the most significant factor associated with the severity of depressive symptoms. It is imperative that the mental health of both medical students and newly qualified doctors be prioritised, supported and monitored.
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