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Bazargan-Hejazi S, Dehghan K, Chou S, Bailey S, Baron K, Assari S, Marzio R, Teklehaimanot S, Kermah D, Lindstrom RW, Shirazi A, Lopez D, Bazargan M. Hope, optimism, gratitude, and wellbeing among health professional minority college students. J Am Coll Health 2023; 71:1125-1133. [PMID: 34344275 PMCID: PMC10699496 DOI: 10.1080/07448481.2021.1922415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2020] [Revised: 08/02/2020] [Accepted: 03/21/2021] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Objectives: To (1) describe the level of hope, optimism, and gratitude in a sample of minority health professional college students. (2) To examine the association between hope, optimism, and gratitude with wellbeing domains. PARTICIPANTS One hundred and thirty-two (n = 132) college students from the Nursing, Medicine, and Allied Health programs. METHODS Cross-sectional survey study assessed wellbeing across the five domains of positive emotion, engagement, relationships, meaning, and accomplishment. RESULTS Mean and Standard Deviation on hope, optimism, and gratitude were 50.2 ± 5.6; 21.7 ± 4.34; and 36.3 ± 5.35, respectively. Hope, optimism, and gratitude were positively associated with domains of wellbeing, controlling for gender and age. CONCLUSION Students maintained a positive outlook in life. Hopeful, op6timistic, and grateful students experienced positive emotion, were more engaged in their daily activities, had more supportive relationships, had a better sense of direction in life, and more often accomplished their goals. Interpretations and future directions are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shahrzad Bazargan-Hejazi
- College of Medicine, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Kaveh Dehghan
- College of Medicine, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Stacy Chou
- College of Medicine, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Shanelle Bailey
- College of Health and Sciences, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Kyla Baron
- College of Health and Sciences, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Shervin Assari
- College of Medicine, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Robert Marzio
- Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Senait Teklehaimanot
- College of Medicine, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Dulcie Kermah
- College of Medicine, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Richard W. Lindstrom
- Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Anaheed Shirazi
- Department of Psychiatry, UC San Diego School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Diana Lopez
- College of Medicine, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, Los Angeles, California, USA
- David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Mohsen Bazargan
- David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Department of Family Medicine, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, Los Angeles, California, USA
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Abstract
As limited research exists on medical students' substance use patterns, including over-consumption of alcohol, the objective of this study was to determine prevalence and correlates of at-risk drinking among a national sample of medical students, using a cross-sectional, anonymous, Web-based survey. A total of 2710 medical students from 36 U.S. medical schools (1st to 4th year) completed the survey. Included in the instruments was a 10-item scale (AUDIT) to assess at-risk drinking behaviors within the last 12 months. Over 15% of the subjects (n = 412) scored positive for at-risk drinking (>/= 8). Multivariate analysis of the data revealed the following independent predictors were statistically significant (P </= 0.05) for at-risk drinking: being of younger age, male, unmarried, using illicit drugs, smoking tobacco products within the last 30 days, having low perception of risk, showing impulsive behavior, being depressed, and having gambling problems. Findings from this study provides initial data for investigating further associations between risky drinking behavior, lifestyle, and psychosocial factors, as well as effectiveness of curriculum or campus-wide policy interventions to reduce over-consumption of drinking among this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ameet Arvind Shah
- Department of Family Medicine, Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
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Bazargan M, Lindstrom RW, Dakak A, Ani C, Wolf KE, Edelstein RA. Impact of desire to work in underserved communities on selection of specialty among fourth-year medical students. J Natl Med Assoc 2006; 98:1460-5. [PMID: 17019913 PMCID: PMC2569734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to explore the specific factors that influence medical student's choice of primary care as a specialty. Special attention is given to the influence of desire to work in underserved communities on selection of a specialty. DESIGN AND SETTINGS A web-based survey of factors affecting choice of specialty was completed by 668 fourth-year students from 32 medical schools. RESULTS Students interested in primary care reported an increased likelihood of working with underserved populations when compared with other specialties. The independent impact of both student's social compassion attitudes and values, and subjective and reinforcing influences on the selection of primary care, when compared with all other specialties, was strong. Personal practice-oriented considerations showed an independent negative impact on the selection of primary care when compared with surgery and support specialties. Financial considerations strongly influence the selection of support specialties. Medical training experiences showed an independent influence on the selection of surgery over primary care. CONCLUSION The need for primary care physicians and specialists in underserved communities is considerable. Addressing health disparities in underserved communities requires a concerted effort to increase the availability of primary care providers in these communities. This study observed that primary care practice or specialty selection by medical students is influenced by individual values and subjective external influences other than predicted by medical training alone. This observation necessitates a closer determination of strategies required to ensure an increase in the number of primary care physicians serving underserved communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohsen Bazargan
- Department of Family Medicine, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, 1731 E. 120th St., Los Angeles, CA 90059, USA.
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