How Medical Students Value Health Compared to the General Population
Author Information
Author(s): Barbist Maria-Theresa, Renn Daniela, Noisternig Bianca, Rumpold Gerhard, Höfer Stefan
Primary Institution: Medical University Innsbruck
Hypothesis
How do medical students value health on the EQ-5D compared to the general population?
Conclusion
Medical students tend to value health states higher than the general public.
Supporting Evidence
- Every third health state was valued higher by medical students compared to the general population.
- 66% of medical students reported no problems in the five EQ-5D domains.
- Medical students reported significantly more problems in pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression compared to an age-matched sample.
Takeaway
Medical students think health is better than the general public does, which might affect how they treat patients.
Methodology
The study involved face-to-face interviews with medical students to evaluate their health state valuations using the EQ-5D.
Potential Biases
The sample may be biased as medical students are a highly selected group with specific educational backgrounds.
Limitations
The study's findings may not be generalizable beyond the specific population of medical students in Austria.
Participant Demographics
The sample consisted of 161 medical students, 41% male, with a mean age of 24.3 years.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.01
Statistical Significance
p<0.01
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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