Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is characterised by obsessive thoughts and compulsive actions. These obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS) are subclinical manifestations that do not meet the full diagnostic criteria for OCD and are associated with anxiety, depression and lower quality of life (QoL). Medical students are vulnerable to developing OCS due to stress in medical school. This study assessed OCS prevalence and its association with the mental well-being and QoL of medical students in Egypt.

A nationwide cross-sectional study was conducted across 15 Egyptian medical schools. Using convenience sampling, 1850 students participated by completing a self-administered questionnaire that used validated scales. We assessed OCS with the Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory-Revised (OCI-R) using a screening cut-off of ≥21, QoL with the Quality-of-Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire (Q-LES-QSF), and anxiety and depression with the 4-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-4). Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were employed.

Clinically significant OCS prevalence among medical students was 51.1%. Significant predictors for OCS included being female (adjusted OR (AOR)=1.25), attending a private university (AOR=1.64), and having personal (AOR=2.05) or combined personal and family history of mental illness (AOR=2.69). OCS presence was associated with a lower QoL score (Q-LES-QSF: 41.00 vs 43.97) and higher psychological distress score (PHQ-4: 5.93 vs 3.57) compared with students without OCS (p

OCS are prevalent among Egyptian medical students, especially females, private university attendees and those with a personal or family history of mental illness. These symptoms are associated with higher psychological distress and a lower QoL. As OCS were identified using a screening cut-off, and given the cross-sectional design, findings should be interpreted cautiously, warranting further longitudinal investigation. Universities should consider implementing mental health support, screening and awareness programmes to address these issues.

Assessing and understanding communicative health literacy (COM-HL) in healthcare settings is essential, as it constitutes a fundamental tool of public health and health promotion. Despite its importance, COM-HL remains an underinvestigated topic in Africa. Consequently, the development and validation of a Portuguese COM-HL scale could be regarded as a significant contribution to the assessment of the COM-HL in Portuguese-speaking African countries. Therefore, the aims of this study were to assess the psychometric properties of the Portuguese COM-HL instruments, to describe the COM-HL of Angolan adults and investigate its determinants.

Cross-sectional survey.

Purposively selected recruitment sites within the municipality/district in seven provinces of Angola across the North, South and East regions.

1839 Angolan adults from 3041 invited persons, predominantly females (53.6%). Quota sampling was used to ensure representation across key sociodemographic strata. Within each quota, recruitment sites, data collection time points and participants were randomly selected. The inclusion criteria were age 18 years or above, Angolan nationality, permanent residence in Angola, the ability to speak the language of the questionnaire and the absence of mental disabilities or any other incapacity to perform the interview.

Measurement properties of the six-item and 11-item versions of the COM-HL instrument assessed through Cronbach’s alpha and Spearman-Brown coefficient, construct validity of the questionnaire investigated by principal component analysis (PCA), the relationship between COM-HL and independent variables measured with linear regression analyses.

The Cronbach’s alpha of the 11-item COM-HL scale was 0.92, and the Spearman-Brown correlation was 0.89. The items belonged to one factor, and 56.7% of the total variance was explained by this factor based on the PCA. The mean score was 52.4 (95% CI 51.42 to 53.45). For the six-item version, the Cronbach’s alpha was 0.86, and the Spearman-Brown correlation was 0.83. The items belonged to one factor, and 58.1% of the total variance was explained by this factor based on the PCA. The mean score was 49.9 (95% CI 48.83 to 50.97). In both versions of the scale, getting enough time in the consultation with your doctor was rated as the most difficult task. The absence of financial deprivation (p

The questionnaires can be characterised by good internal consistency and seem to be an appropriate tool to assess COM-HL in Portuguese-speaking countries. Angolan adults scored relatively low for COM-HL. People found it difficult to get enough time during consultations. Therefore, it is recommended to improve the communication skills of physicians and facilitate communication among healthcare users.