Prevalence and Correlates of Obsessive–Compulsive Symptoms in a Sample of Undergraduate Clinical Medical Students in Osogbo, Southwestern Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Obsessive–compulsive symptoms (OCS) may be common, yet, under‑recognised and under‑reported among medical students. Their presence is associated with other mental disorders which could have negative impacts on the academic functioning of medical students.
Objectives: The objective is to assess the prevalence and correlates of OCS in a sample of Nigerian clinical medical students.
Methods: This is a cross‑sectional descriptive study conducted among 209 Nigerian medical students in their clinical training years. They completed a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory-Revised, the Depression and Anxiety Stress Scale – 21 and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale.
Results: The prevalence of OCS was 32.1%. Depression, anxiety and stress were present in 13.9%, 27.8% and 35.4% of the respondents, respectively. The presence of OCS was associated with stress, anxiety, depression and low self‑esteem among the medical students.
Conclusions: OCS is relatively common among clinical medical students. Their presence may worsen the difficulties experienced among medical students in the course of their training. There may be a need to be screening clinical medical students for the presence of OCS.