Introduction: Medical education is a challenging and demanding field that requires rigorous academic study, practical experience, and intense emotional investment. This intense environment can contribute to anxiety and negative thinking among medical students. This systematic review aims to explore the prevalence and impact of anxiety and negative thoughts on medical students in Malaysia. A comprehensive search was conducted on electronic databases including PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar. The search keywords included "anxiety", "negative thoughts", "medical students", and "Malaysia". The inclusion criteria were articles written in English and published between 2010 and 2022, reporting on the prevalence and impact of anxiety and negative thoughts on medical students in Malaysia. A total of 12 articles met the inclusion criteria and were included in this systematic review. The studies reported a high prevalence of anxiety and negative thoughts among medical students in Malaysia. The prevalence of anxiety ranged from 20% to 70%, while negative thoughts ranged from 25% to 70%. Factors contributing to anxiety and negative thoughts included academic pressure, workload, clinical training, and lack of social support. The impact of anxiety and negative thoughts on medical students included academic underperformance, decreased quality of life, and mental health disorders. This systematic review provides evidence that anxiety and negative thoughts are prevalent among medical students in Malaysia and have a significant impact on their academic performance, quality of life, and mental health. Therefore, it is crucial to implement interventions that address the underlying causes of anxiety and negative thoughts and provide social support to medical students. Further research is needed to develop and evaluate effective interventions for managing anxiety and negative thoughts among medical students in Malaysia.
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