Comparison of Suicidal Ideation Among Medical Students in Basic and Clinical Levels at Zahedan University of Medical Sciences
| Author | Nezarali Moulaei | en |
| Author | Parnian Molaei | en |
| Author | Ali Jahantigh | en |
| Author | Hamidreza Zivarifar | en |
| Orcid | Nezarali Moulaei [0000-0001-7656-6527] | en |
| Orcid | Hamidreza Zivarifar [0009-0009-5598-3802] | en |
| Issued Date | 2025-12-31 | en |
| Abstract | Background: Suicidal ideation is an important and under-recognized problem among medical students worldwide. Objectives: This brief report compares the prevalence and intensity of suicidal ideation between students in basic sciences and those in clinical training at Zahedan University of Medical Sciences (ZUMS) to identify phase-specific needs for mental health support. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 204 medical students (105 basic-science, 99 clinical interns) at ZUMS. Participants were selected using stratified random sampling (strata: Educational level and sex). Data were collected using a Persian-validated Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation (BSSI) and a demographics questionnaire during 2023 (data collected in 2023; exact months were not recorded in the original submission). Analyses were performed using SPSS v22. Group comparisons utilized independent t-tests and chi-square tests; a two-tailed P < 0.05 was considered significant. Effect sizes (Cohen’s d) were computed for the primary basic vs. clinical comparison. Results: The mean age of participants were 22.7 ± 3.6 years; 118 (57.8%) were male and 86 (42.2%) female. Clinical interns (fourth year students and above) reported higher mean BSSI scores (7.32 ± 7.39) than basic-science students (first to fourth year students) (4.39 ± 6.24, P = 0.003); Cohen’s d = 0.43 (small-moderate effect). Female clinical students scored higher (9.75 ± 7.35) than female basic-science students (5.07 ± 6.62, P = 0.004). Married interns had higher scores (6.77 ± 6.03) than married basic students (0.33 ± 0.51, P < 0.001). Students living in dormitories had higher scores than those living with parents (P = 0.024). Conclusions: Suicidal ideation was significantly higher among clinical-phase students at ZUMS compared with basic-science peers, with a small–moderate effect size. The findings support the urgent need for phase-specific mental health interventions (screening, counseling, curriculum changes), and for larger longitudinal and qualitative studies to clarify causal processes and design targeted interventions. | en |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.5812/ijhrba-163593 | en |
| Keyword | Suicidal Ideation | en |
| Keyword | Medical Students | en |
| Keyword | Clinical Training | en |
| Keyword | Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation | en |
| Publisher | Brieflands | en |
| Title | Comparison of Suicidal Ideation Among Medical Students in Basic and Clinical Levels at Zahedan University of Medical Sciences | en |
| Type | Brief Report | en |
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