Background: Hypochondriac symptoms are commonly reported in health science students. With their incomplete medical knowledge, they may compare their own bodily symptoms with disease symptoms during the process of learning, which can lead to mental distress and the need for repeated medical reassurance.
Objective: To estimate the prevalence of hypochondriac symptoms in Chinese health science students.
Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted on PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, China Biology Medicine disc, and Wanfang Data on July 1, 2018. Additionally, the references of the retrieved papers were searched. Cross-sectional studies published in either English or Chinese that reported the prevalence of hypochondriac symptoms in health science students were included. The selection process was executed based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis, and study quality was assessed with the checklist recommended by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality for cross-sectional studies. A random-effects model according to the DerSimonian-Laird method was used to calculate the pooled prevalence.
Results: Seven cross-sectional studies involving 6,217 Chinese health science students were included. The pooled prevalence of hypochondriac symptoms among health science students was 28.0% (95% CI = 19.0%-38.0%). The symptoms were a little more common in females (30.0%, 95% CI = 19.0%-42.0%) than in males (29.0%, 95% CI = 16.0%-42.0%), but the difference was not significant. No significant differences were found between participants grouped by study year. Only three studies explored the coping styles of students with hypochondriasis, and these revealed a high tendency toward help-seeking behaviors.
Conclusion: Our systematic review and meta-analysis showed a high prevalence of hypochondriac symptoms among health science students, indicating that it is a noteworthy phenomenon. We suggest that counseling and other support services are necessary for health science students.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6748570 | PMC |
| http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0222663 | PLOS |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Assembly of collagen fibers into contiguous dense and loose regions of subcutaneous fascia.
Connect Tissue Res
January 2025
Graduate School of Engineering, Kogakuin University, Hachioji, Tokyo, Japan.
Objective: This study aimed to investigate the collagen fiber structure of the subcutaneous fascia, a connective tissue layer between the skin and epimysium.
Methods: Fascia samples with varying extensibility were examined using biochemical and microscopic methods.
Results: Loose fascia, the more extensible type, displayed sparsely distributed collagen fibers, while dense fascia showed tightly packed collagen fiber bundles.
Dopamine genetic risk scores and psychiatric symptoms: Interacting risk factors for impulse control behaviours in de novo Parkinson's disease.
J Neuropsychol
January 2025
Department of Health, Medical and Neuropsychology, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands.
Up to 45% of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) experience impulse control disorders (ICDs), characterized by a loss of voluntary control over impulses, drives or temptations. This study aimed to investigate whether previously identified genetic and psychiatric risk factors interact towards the development of ICDs in PD. A total of 278 de novo PD patients (ICD-free at enrollment) were selected from the Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative database.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFUrinary Lipid Production Profile of Patients With Food Allergy.
Clin Exp Allergy
January 2025
Animal Radiology, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
Allogeneic DNT cell therapy synergizes with T cells to promote anti-leukemic activities while suppressing GvHD.
J Exp Clin Cancer Res
January 2025
Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) is a second-line treatment with curative potential for leukemia patients. However, the prognosis of allo-HSCT patients with disease relapse or graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) is poor. CD4 or CD8 conventional T (Tconv) cells are critically involved in mediating anti-leukemic immune responses to prevent relapse and detrimental GvHD.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInterplay between BMI, neutrophil, triglyceride and uric acid: a case-control study and bidirectional multivariate mendelian randomization analysis.
Nutr Metab (Lond)
January 2025
School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, Hubei, 430065, China.
Background: This study aims to explore the interplay between body mass index (BMI), neutrophils, triglyceride levels, and uric acid (UA). Understanding the causal correlation between UA and health indicators, specifically its association with the body's inflammatory conditions, is crucial for preventing and managing various diseases.
Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 4,286 cases utilizing the Spearman correlation method.
Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!