A snapshot of quality of life in Allied Health and Medical students at program commencement.

To assess the wellbeing of Medical and Allied Health university students, particularly within their first semester of study.  

First year students of Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Nutrition and Medicine at an Australian private University were invited to complete a survey of health and well-being. The Short Form 12 (SF-12) was used to assess well-being in 8 domains (physical functioning, role-physical, bodily pain, general health, vitality, social functioning, role-emotional, mental health), which were used to create a Physical Component Summary (PCS) score and a Mental Component Summary (MCS) score. All scores were standardised to general US population norms with a mean of 50 and standard deviation of 10. Scores above 50 indicate better than average health-related quality of life while scores below 50 suggests below average health.

Almost three quarters of all students (201/275) either fully or partially completed the survey. Of these, 114 (56.7%) were from Medicine, 48 (23.8%) were from Physiotherapy and the remaining 39 (19.4%) were from either Occupational Therapy or Nutrition. Almost two thirds (64.7%) identified as a woman and the median age was 20.5 years (IQR 18-25). A total of 72.1% were domestic students; Physiotherapy had the highest number of international students (68.8%). Median PCS scores for all discipline groups were between 54.2 and 55.6, while median MCS scores were 50.2 (Medicine), 48.2 (Occupational Therapy), 48.2 (Nutrition) and 39.3 (Physiotherapy). Physiotherapy MCS scores were significantly lower (p0.001) than MCS scores for both Medicine and Occupational Therapy and approximately 24% lower than the US mean of 50. The low MCS score was influenced by low scores in the domain related to vitality (over the past 4 weeks, did you have a lot of energy?) and the question related to social functioning (over the past 4 weeks, how much of your time has your physical health or emotional problems interfered with your social activities?). 

While the physical composite scores of students in all discipline groups were acceptable, the low mental composite scores are concerning, especially among Physiotherapy students, the majority of whom were international students. The data will be used to inform the development of strategies to improve student well-being.

Further research is needed to examine the determinants of poor mental well-being in student Physiotherapists.  Improved understanding of the underlying causes may allow for the development of strategies to improve well-being which in turn may assist with reducing burnout both while studying and in future careers.