Impact of a Short Study Skills Course on Depressive Symptoms Among Medical Students

Objectives The study aimed to assess the impact of a study skills course on the prevalence and severity of depressive symptoms among third-year medical students. Depression in this population can affect their education and future clinical practice, making it crucial to address and explore ways to mitigate the impact of studying in medical school on depressive symptoms and mental health. Methods An experimental cohort study following two groups prospectively was conducted between January and May 2022. The Study Skills Inventory (SSI) measured study skills, while the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) assessed depressive symptoms in both the index and control groups, before and after the course. Of the 69 participants, 36 were in the index group, and 33 were in the control group. A six-session study skills course was conducted virtually via the Zoom (Zoom Communications, San Jose, CA, USA) platform due to restrictions imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The course incorporated a variety of teaching and learning strategies, including interactive lectures, small group discussions, educational materials, and skill-building exercises. In addition to descriptive statistics, mean ranks of the pre-post test scores of the index and control groups were compared using Mann-Whitney U and Wilcoxon Signed-Rank tests, as appropriate. Results Overall, session attendance was low. No statistically significant differences in depressive symptoms or study skills were detected between the two groups, either pre- or post-intervention. Conclusion This study concluded that the study skills course did not demonstrate a statistically significant reduction in depressive symptoms. Future research should evaluate similar interventions within more comprehensive curricula to assess their effects on psychological well-being.