Factors associated with symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder among medical students in Cameroon: a web-based cross-sectional study.

Journal: BMJ open

Volume: 10

Issue: 5

Year of Publication: 2021

Affiliated Institutions:  Graduate School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan. Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Bamenda, Bamenda, Cameroon, Bamenda, Cameroon. Medical Department, GiftedMom, Yaoundé, Cameroon, Yaounde, Cameroon. Department of Dental Surgery, Mbingo Baptist Hospital, Belo, Cameroon. Department of Population Health, Université Catholique de l'Afrique Centrale, Yaounde, Cameroon. Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, Oxfordshire, UK. Institute of Health Informatics, University College London, London, UK. Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, Oxfordshire, UK nvagbor@gmail.com.

Abstract summary 

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a chronic mental disorder that is associated with poor productivity, with a significant impact on the quality of life.To determine factors associated with symptoms of ADHD among medical students in Cameroon.A web-based cross-sectional study.Participants were recruited through a social media platform, WhatsApp, from 24 June to 2 September 2018.Medical students aged 18 years and older from seven medical schools in Cameroon. All non-medical students and all medical residents were excluded.Data from a total of 491 eligible participants were analysed. The median age was 25 (IQR 21-25) years and 54% were of the participants were female. The prevalence of self-reported symptoms of ADHD was 24.4% (95% CI 20.6% to 28.3%). Histories of chronic disease (adjusted OR (AOR) 2.96; 95% CI 1.49 to 5.86, p=0.002), family history of ADHD (AOR 3.38; 95% CI 1.04 to 10.44, p=0.035), severe depression (AOR=3.49; 95% CI 1.82 to 6.77, p<0.001) and anxiety disorder (AOR 2.06; 95% CI 1.25 to 3.36, p=0.004) were found to be independently associated with the symptoms of ADHD.ADHD may be a highly prevalent mental disorder among medical students, and is associated with severe depression, anxiety disorders and chronic diseases. There is a need to conduct a large-scale prospective cohort study with interviews to estimate the true prevalence and incidence of ADHD among medical students in Cameroon, and to determinant the risk factors associated with the disorder.

Authors & Co-authors:  Njuwa Karl Fai KF Simo Larissa Pone LP Ntani Limnyuy Loweh LL Forchin Azumesi Nguni AN Parviel Chirsir C Tianyi Tianyi Frank Leonel FL Nsah Bernard B Agbor Valirie Ndip VN

Study Outcome 

Source Link: Visit source

Statistics
Citations :  Polanczyk G, de Lima MS, Horta BL, et al. . The worldwide prevalence of ADHD: a systematic review and metaregression analysis. Am J Psychiatry 2007;164:942–8. 10.1176/ajp.2007.164.6.942
Authors :  8
Identifiers
Doi : e037297
SSN : 2044-6055
Study Population
Male,Female
Mesh Terms
Adolescent
Other Terms
epidemiology;medical education & training;psychiatry
Study Design
Cohort Study,Cross Sectional Study
Study Approach
Country of Study
Cameroon
Publication Country
England