A retrospective self-report analysis of health anxiety among medical students across a global health crisis

This retrospective within-subjects observational study aims to examine how the global health crisis has influenced perceived health anxiety levels among medical students by comparing their current self-reported anxiety to their retrospective recall of anxiety levels before the crisis. A total of 239 medical students participated in this study. Health anxiety was measured using the SHAI. The study was designed as a retrospective within-subject research with a pre-post self-report comparison using retrospective recall. Mean SHAI scores increased significantly from 12.08 ± 7.07 pre-pandemic to 16.33 ± 9.07 post- pandemic (p<0.001). The Illness Likelihood sub-section of SHAI showed a greater mean difference (2.91) than the Negative Consequences sub-section (1.82). No significant subgroup differences were noted based on gender, academic phase, or COVID-19 infection status (p>0.05). Correlation analysis indicated a strong relationship between pre- and post-pandemic SHAI scores (r=0.570, p<0.001). The study findings help understand medical students' psychological vulnerabilities due to the pandemic and highlight the dire need to integrate mental health support strategies in medical education.