Al-Iraqia Medical College Journal

This study aimed to assess the prevalence and factors influencing fast food consumption among medical students at Al-Iraqia University. A cross-sectional study was conducted at Al-Iraqia University, Baghdad, Iraq, from December 2023 to February 2024. The study included students from all six academic years of the College of Medicine. A total of 420 students participated, with 222 (52.9%) males.

The mean age of participants was 21.11 ± 1.71 years (range: 18–24 years), and the mean BMI was 32.18 ± 13.88. Frequent fast-food consumption (≥ twice per week) was reported by 320 students (76.2%). The most commonly consumed fast foods were burgers and sandwiches, with lunch being the preferred meal for consumption. The primary factors driving fast food consumption included convenience, taste, and time constraints, while affordability and availability of utensils played a lesser role. The study revealed a high prevalence of fast-food consumption among medical students, primarily driven by time constraints, convenience, and taste preferences. Given the potential health risks associated with frequent fast-food intake, implementing targeted awareness programs and promoting healthier dietary alternatives may be crucial in improving students\' eating habits and overall well-being. Observed during examination periods. Although consumption levels were generally within safe limits, the findings highlight the need for greater awareness regarding the long-term effects of excessive caffeine consumption.

Ovarian cystic lesions are a prevalent issue in clinical practice and amongst women of all ages worldwide, encapsulating a multitude of entities ranging from benign functional cysts to complex neoplasms. In Iraq, ovarian cancers are notably significant, ranking as the fifth most common cancer amongst females according to the Iraqi Cancer Registry of 2022. This study is a retrospective observational study that included 209 samples obtained in the period from 2021-2024, all are female patients between the ages of 10 to 65 years, who were diagnosed with an ovarian mass and who underwent cystectomy or total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingooophorectomy. We analyzed the prevalence of ovarian cysts and tumors in Iraqi female population and how each type of lesion correlate with the age of the patient and the size and site of the lesion using SPSS statistics 26. serous cystadenoma was the most common diagnosis in this study, accounting for 33% of cases, followed by teratoma (17%) and follicular cysts (15%). the majority of participants in this study were aged 40–49 years. most lesions in this study were unilateral, with 41% located on the right side, 39% on the left, and 5% bilateral. Benign lesions accounted for 94% of cases in this study, with malignant tumors representing 5% of cases.

Significant associations were found between diagnosis and size and diagnosis and laterality. Larger tumors (>5 cm) were mostly neoplastic, with high grade serous adenocarcinomas comprising the majority of malignant cases.

E-cigarettes have become widely available across the world, especially among adolescents. Nicotine is highly addictive—and vaping at a young age rewires the brain an makes it harder to avoid other tobacco products like cigarettes, so explaining the health risks of nicotine may be enough encouragement to halt the smoker from like gaining new healthier habits that replaced smoking, such as exercise can be very helpful.

A cross-sectional study was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire to identify the predictors of vaping smoking among university students aged >17 years in two Universities in Baghdad, Iraq.

98 university students enrolled in this study aged between (17 and 26) years old with mean age of (20 ± 1.6 SD). 68.36% of the participants were males, and 31.64% were females. Most of the studied sample were medical students 76.53% with some participation from dentist students 23.47%. Among the males, 31.3% of them were vape smokers, while the females shown 0% prevalence of vape smoking, Regarding vape consumption The majority of the students were non- smokers 78.6%, while vape smokers represented 21.4% of the sample. 61.9% of vape smoker have the intention to stop smoking, where 38 % of those have tried to stop vape smoking during the last year .and as response to the question (Do you think you would be able to stop smoking vape if you wanted to) 80% of vape smokers have answered as (No) which reflect the addiction among these groups.

In this study, we had found that most of the students where non vape smoker (78.6%), while vape smokers made only (21.4%) of the sample with the majority of them were smoking both vapes and other tobacco products. with 100% of the smokers being male, where males had significantly higher knowledge rates about vape products and its effect compared to females. We also identify some factors that may affect the prevalence and use of vape smoking: having friends or family members that also smoke, socioeconomic state of the students also effects the consumption of vape products and its use.

Globally, mental health among undergraduate students is recognized as a crucial public health concern. University students experience substantial academic and familial pressures, leading to significant psychological stress that may develop into serious mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety. The study aims to determine the prevalence of depression among medical students at Al-Mustansiriyah University and Al-Iraqia University, College of Medicine, to identify any association between depression and academic year level. And to examine the correlation between depression and selected socio-demographic factors. A cross-sectional online survey using Google Forms was conducted among medical students from the first to the sixth year at Al-Iraqia University and Al-Mustansiriyah University, College of Medicine. The survey was disseminated via academic online platforms between January 22 and 26, 2024, to assess the prevalence of depression among medical students at these institutions.

A total of 627 medical students from both universities participated in the study, with 404 (64.4%) being female and 223 (35.6%) male. The highest prevalence of depressive symptoms was observed among first-year (26.8%), fourth-year (21.9%), and sixth-year (24.1%) students. Depression was significantly more prevalent among female students (65.8%). Depression is a significant mental health issue among medical students at Al-Mustansiriyah University and Al-Iraqia University, College of Medicine. The study found a strong association between depression and factors such as academic year, gender, age, and residence. It is recommended to implement mental health support programs tailored to medical students, considering these factors.

Caffeine, known for its stimulating effects, is widely consumed by medical students to counteract stress, fatigue, and enhance alertness for academic performance. This study aimed to assess the prevalence, types, and motivations for caffeine consumption among medical students, as well as their knowledge of its benefits and potential side effects.

A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among first- to sixth-year medical students at Al-Iraqia University and Al-Mustansiriyah University. Data were collected via Google Forms, distributed through academic online platforms from Jan 23 to 30th, 2024, to investigate caffeine consumption patterns and general knowledge.

A total of 507 students participated, with 471 (93%) reporting caffeine consumption. The Majority were female (67.1%). The most commonly consumed caffeine product was Coffee (60.4%), followed by tea (56.2%). Daily caffeine consumption was reported by 61.3% of students, with most consuming 1-3 cups per day, while a minority (7%) consumed more than three cups. The primary reason for caffeine intake was to stay awake (60.6%). Additionally, 66.3% of students reported an increase in caffeine consumption upon entering medical school. While students exhibited limited general knowledge about caffeine, they demonstrated better awareness regarding side effects and withdrawal symptoms.

A significant proportion of medical students consume caffeine, predominantly in the form of Coffee, with increased intake observed during examination periods. Although consumption levels were generally within safe limits, the findings highlight the need for greater awareness regarding the long-term effects of excessive caffeine consumption.