Health-Related Quality of Life among Medical Students and Its Associated Factors: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Objective: To assess the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and its associated factors among medical students residing in Faisalabad, Pakistan.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at Aziz Fatimah Medical and Dental College, Faisalabad, Pakistan from July 2023 to December 2023. All medical students aged 18 years and above were included. HRQOL was assessed using the 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36), covering eight domains: Physical Functioning, Role Limitations due to Physical Health, Role Limitations due to Emotional Problems, Vitality, Mental Health, Social Functioning, Bodily Pain, and General Health Perception. Each domain was scored from 0 (low) to 100 (high). Physical and Mental Component Summary scores were also calculated. Results: Of total 300 students, SF-36 domains showed higher mean scores in Bodily Pain and Physical Functioning i.e., 66.6 ±24.9 and 61.6 ±29.1. Males reported significantly higher mean scores in General Health Perception (p-value < 0.001) and Vitality (p-value 0.013), while females had significantly higher Physical Functioning scores (p-value <0.005). Students >21 years had significantly higher mean scores in Physical Functioning (p-value 0.017). Furthermore, day scholars showed significantly better mean scores in Physical Functioning (p-value <0.001), Bodily Pain (p-value 0.020), Social Functioning (p-value 0.030), and Physical Component Summary (p-value <0.001) than hostelites. Students who exercised (p-value 0.020), had strong family relationships (p-value 0.003), and faced no distressing family events (p-value <0.001) reported significantly higher SF-36 scores.

Conclusion:Overall, SF-36 domains showed higher mean scores in Bodily Pain and Physical Functioning, with significant differences in HRQOL based on age, gender, residence, and lifestyle.