Depressive symptoms in the last year students of Erciyes University Faculty of Medicine and relationship between hopelessness level

Medical education, which is seen as a difficult process due to its strick and difficult content and potential risks in the profession causes serious psychological stress on students. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between the prevalence of depressive symptoms and hopelessness in the last year students of Erciyes University Faculty of Medicine. In this descriptive and cross-sectional study, a questionnaire including "Demographic Information Form", "Beck Depression Scale' and "Beck Hopelessness Scale was applied to 135 students. Student t test, Anova, Chi-square test, Correlation analysis and Logistic regression were used in the statistical analyzes. The number of those who scored 17 and above on the Beck Depression Scale deemed to have depressive symptoms was 32 (15.6%). The mean of depressive score was 10.84±7.23. There was no significant relationship between age, gender, place of residence, monthly expenditures, year/internship retention, low school success and depressive symptoms. Depressive symptoms are significantly lower in those who describe family and friend relationships as "very good/good". The mean score of Beck Hopelessness Scale was 6.16±4.74. There was no statistically significant difference between students' age, gender, place of residence and monthly expenses and hopelessness scores. Despairing scores of students who stated that they had physical or mental illness were significantly higher. Depressive symptom rate and hopelessness score were significantly lower in those who stated that they chose the Faculty of Medicine voluntarily. Although the hopelessness score is high, there is no statistically significant difference. In those who stated that they were not satisfied with being a physician, they did not make the right decision in the choice of profession, that the profession of medicine did not find its rightful place in the society and that the future of the medical profession was not good, the rate of depressive symptoms was higher and the hopelessness score was low, but there was no statistically significant difference. According to the logistic analysis, the effect of having poor relations with depressive symptoms is 4.16 times. The effect of hopelessness scale score on depressive symptoms was 1.36 times. A positive correlation was found between the Depression Scale and Hopelessness Scale scores according to the correlation analysis. As a result of the research, it was seen that some socio-demographic characteristics of the last year medical students did not affect depression and hopelessness levels in general. According to the logistic analysis, the effect of having poor relations with depressive symptoms is 4.16 times. The effect of hopelessness scale score on depressive symptoms was 1.36 times. According to the correlation analysis between the Depression Scale and Hopelessness Scale scores, a moderate positive relationship was found. As a result of the research, it was seen that some socio-demographic characteristics of the last year medical students did not affect depression and hopelessness levels in general.