Association between pelvic floor disorder symptoms and QoL scores with depressive symptoms among pelvic organ prolapse patients.

BACKGROUND: There is no consensus on the relationship between depressive symptoms (DS) and pelvic organ prolapse (POP) symptoms and quality of life (QoL). Our hypothesis was that women with DS and POP have worse symptoms and QoL than those without DS and POP. AIM: Our aim was to compare two groups of POP patients, those with depressive symptoms and those without, and evaluate the association of symptoms and QoL. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This planned report is part of a prospective study evaluating the impact of pessary use among symptomatic POP patients. Patients were evaluated by POP quantification (POP-Q), pelvic ultrasound (US), voiding diaries, stress test, pad test, Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory (PFDI-20), Prolapse QoL (P-QoL) and the Goldberg Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) (psychological health screening for DS when score ≥5). A sample size of 78 patients was required to demonstrate a 50-point difference in the global PFDI-20 score with 80% power and 95% probability. RESULTS: Ninety-one women with POP were included. GHQ-12 was positive in 47 (51.6%) patients. No differences were found in POP-Q, pad and stress test between those with a positive GHQ-12 and those without. However, GHQ-12 was associated with higher PFDI-20 scores and higher scores in seven of nine P-QoL domains. GHQ-12 persisted as an independent risk factor for worse P-QoL scores after multivariable analysis. CONCLUSION: A 'positive' screening for DS was associated with worse PFDI-20 and P-QoL scores despite no difference in objective measurements. It may be that depressed patients interpret their symptoms differently.

[Illicit and psychotropic drug use among medical students at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile]. / Consumo de sustancias ilícitas y psicotrópicos entre los estudiantes de medicina de la Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile.

BACKGROUND: Illicit drug abuse is a public health problem, generally starting in adolescence. Medical students are not an exception. AIM: To assess the consumption of illicit drugs among medical students of the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A questionnaire used by the National Council for the Control of Substance Abuse (CONACE) to evaluate substance use and the Goldberg Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), were applied to medical students. The questionnaires were self administered under supervision. RESULTS: The survey was completed by 569 of 775 students (74%). "Ever used" reached 33% for marijuana, 1.196 for cocaine, 2.1% for amphetamines without prescription, 6.9% for not prescribed benzodiazepines and 5.8% for not prescribed antidepressants. The use of these substances was only associated for ever used marijuana and level of career (p <0.01), with the highest rate in the seventh final year (51.4%). Benzodiazepine use was also associated with the level of career (p <0.01) with less than 6% prevalence from first to fourth and the highest in seventh year (32.4%). Non prescribed antidepressant use was significantly higher among women. Tobacco and alcohol use were associated with consumption of marijuana (p <0.0001) and benzodiazepines (p <0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Our medical students have low marijuana consumption rates, only above Turkey. Cocaine and amphetamines use is low, benzodiazepine consumption is higher among final year students. Antidepressant use is higher among women.

[Smoking and alcohol drinking among medical students at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile]. / Consumo de tabaco y alcohol entre los estudiantes de medicina de la Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile.

BACKGROUND: Tobacco and alcohol consumption are public health problems, generally starting in adolescence. Medical students are not an exception. AIM: To determine the characteristics of tobacco and alcohol use among medical students at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile and their association with gender, career level and mental health. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A questionnaire to evaluate substance use was applied along with Goldberg Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), as a mental health risk predictor, to all medical students in November 2005. RESULTS: The survey was completed by 569 of 775 students (74%). Current smokers were 23- 7%, with the lowest figure, 13-5% in sixth year, and the highest, 40.5% in seventh year (p <0.01). Thirty one percent of students with an score of five and over in the GHQ-12 were smokers, compared to 19% among those with a lower score. Daily smokers were 40%o of the current smokers. Seventy four percent of students consumed alcohol during the last month. No association with sex or GHQ-12 was observed. The lowest alcohol consumption rate was observed in second year, and the highest in sixth year (66%o and 89-2%o, respectively, p <0.01). Fifty three percent of men and 26%o of women drank three or more drinks in any given day (p <0.01). Sixty three percent of men and 81% of women never drank more than five drinks in one day, during the last month (p <0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Our medical students smoke less than Chilean youth but more than medical students of countries such as the USA. They drink less than Anglo-Saxon medical students but more than Chilean youth. Male consumption is greater than that of women. Smoking and alcohol drinking are mutually associated.

Consumo de sustancias ilícitas y psicotrópicos entre los estudiantes de medicina de la Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile / Illicit and psychotropic drug use among medical students at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile

Background: Illicit drug abuse is a public health problem, generally starting in adolescence. Medical students are not an exception. Aim: To assess the consumption of illicit drugs among medical students of the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. Material and Methods: A questionnaire used by the National Council for the Control of Substance Abuse (CONACE) to evaluate substance use and the Goldberg Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), were applied to medical students. The questionnaires were self administered under supervision. Results: The survey was completed by 569 of 775 students (74%). “Ever used” reached 33% for marijuana, 1.1% for cocaine, 2.1% for amphetamines without prescription, 6.9% for not prescribed benzodiazepines and 5.8% for not prescribed antidepressants. The use of these substances was only associated for ever used marijuana and level of career (p <0.01), with the highest rate in the seventh final year (51.4%). Benzodiazepine use was also associated with the level of career (p <0.01) withless than 6% prevalence from first to fourth and the highest in seventh year (32.4%). Non prescribed antidepessant use was significantly higher among women. Tobacco and alcohol use were associated with consumption of marijuana (p <0.0001) and benzodiazepines (p <0.0001). Conclusions: Our medical students have low marijuana consumption rates, only above Turkey. Cocaine and amphetamines use is low, benzodiazepine consumption is higher among final year students. Antidepressant use is higher among women.

Consumo de tabaco y alcohol entre los estudiantes de medicina de la Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile / Smoking and alcohol drinking among medical students at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile

Background: Tobacco and alcohol consumption are public health problems, generally starting in adolescence. Medical students are not an exception. Aim: To determine the characteristics of tobacco and alcohol use among medical students at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile and their association with gender, career level and mental health. Material and methods: A questionnaire to evaluate substance use was applied along with Goldberg Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), as a mental health risk predictor, to all medical students in November 2005- Results: The survey was completed by 569 of 775 students (74 percent). Current smokers were 23- 7 percent, with the lowest figure, 13-5 percent in sixth year, and the highest, 40.5 percent in seventh year (p <0.01). Thirty one percent of students with an score of five and over in the GHQ-12 were smokers, compared to 19 percent among those with a lower score. Daily smokers were 40 percento of the current smokers. Seventy four percent of students consumed alcohol during the last month. No association with sex or GHQ-12 was observed. The lowest alcohol consumption rate was observed in second year, and the highest in sixth year (66 percento and 89-2 percento, respectively, p <0.01). Fifty three percent of men and 26 percento of women drank three or more drinks in any given day (p <0.01). Sixty three percent of men and 81 percent of women never drank more than five drinks in one day, during the last month (p <0.01). Conclusions: Our medical students smoke less than Chilean youth but more than medical students of countries such as the USA. They drink less than Anglo-Saxon medical students but more than Chilean youth. Male consumption is greater than that of women. Smoking and alcohol drinking are mutually associated.