ABSTRACT
Objective
Assess the quality of life and factors associated with lower scores of quality of life of medical students.
Methods
A cross-sectional study was conducted using the WHOQOL-100 questionnaire with inclusion of 1st-6th year medical students of the Federal University of São Paulo. No exclusion criterion was adopted. Comparisons between numerical variables were made by t test or ANOVA and categorical variables by qui-square. Factors associated with lower overall scores were analyzed by linear regression, considering significant p < 0.05.
Results
We enrolled 607 (82.5%) students; mean age of 22.9 ± 2.9 years, 57.4% male, 99.0% single and 14.5% were living alone. Students presented an overall score of 72.1 ± 7.7 points. The perception of quality of life was greater in 1st-2nd years students compared to 3rd-4th year and 5th-6th years. Sixth year had lower scores than 1st year in all areas, except in spirituality. Males had higher score, in physical, psychological, independence and quality of life, compared with females. Those who were living alone, compared to those who had company, had lower scores in physical domain. Students of the C/D socioeconomic status had a lower overall and environment domain score, compared to class A and B. Factors associated with lower overall scores were: 6th year (OR: -3.5), female sex (OR: -2.1) and class C/D (OR: -1.8).
Conclusions
The overall score for quality of life was 72 points, with lower score in the physical domain. Factors associated to lower score of global quality of life were: 6th year, female and socioeconomic class C/D.
Students medical; quality of life; education medical; surveys and questionnaires