[Stress in medical students: a cross-sectional study]

There is little doubt that medical students are subject to considerable amounts of physical and mental stress, resulting in high rates of depression and anxiety as well as other health problems. The present study- conducted from June to August 2006- looks at the problem of stress among Iranian medical students. A total of 742 students in different stages of their general medical training filled in a questionnaire dealing with personal and demographic characteristics, physical and mental stress, social relations and perceived job perspectives as well as problems faced at home and the campus. For each participant, a total stress score computed and its association with putative risk factors examined using Mann-Whitney test, non-parametric correlations and logistic regression analysis. In logistic regression analysis, the following factors were found to have significant, independent associations with a high degree of stress: female gender [P=0.001], living in a large family [P=0.01], low income [P=0.05], training in clinical rotations [P<0.001] and internship [P<0.001] and separation from the family [P=0.01]. From a student's perspective, the most important problems [stressors] faced by the students included crowded campus and dormitories, poor learning facilities, work overload, humiliation and abuse from staff and faculty members. Addressing the financial needs of the students [e.g. easier access to student loans], developing better communication skills, education in various relaxation and stress reduction techniques, and measures to reduce workload are recommended to mitigate the effects of physical and mental stress in medical students. Key words: Stress, Medical students, Cause, Cross-sectional

[Socio-Economic status in Iran: a study of measurement index]

Socio-Economic status of people which has an impressive effect on their health, is itself impressed by many other factors. This variable is measured as a basic variable in all health and medical researches. Till now, there has been no means in the country to assist researchers in this area. In the present research, it is tried to provide an accurate and precise index that its validity has been tested and assessed, so measurement of this variable would be very subtle in health and medical researches. This is a cross-sectional study and the study population is the households living in Tehran. One thousand households have been recruited in the study. For the reliability of "Internal Consistency", the questionnaire has been checked applying Chronbach's Alpha. The "Content Validity" of questionnaire has been considered and modified under the supervision of the related academic references and The "Construct Validity" has been calculated by "Factor Analysis" and "Principal Component Analysis". For determining, both Socio-Economic statuses in two and four strata scale "Summed Lickert Scale" have been applied. In order to determine Cut off Point, the overall score by using three points, 1st Quarter, Mean and 3rd Quarter, has been divided into four strata, the scores under 1st Quarter, between 1st Quarter and the Mean, between the Mean and 3rd Quarter, and above the 3rd Quarter are considered as Weak, Average, Good and Very good, respectively. Facilities and leisure times [alpha=0.17], Householder and his spouse characteristics [alpha=0.67], property owner [alpha=0.66], income and expenses [alpha=0.34], showed the highest reliability. Reliability testing shows that the variables relating to facilities and leisure times comparing other variables have more correlation together. Making different changes on the weight of each groups of variables shows that at the most suitable condition, the result of reliability of all the variables stated in the questionnaire has been alpha=0.6 Correlation of those variables related to the householder education, house area, site value of the house, possessing personal car and personal computer has been more than other variables. Therefore, by applying the whole set of mentioned variables, the Index is defined briefly. A standard questionnaire has been designed by applying Reliability Analysis Method, in a way that generally each group of its questions and also different sections of it have appropriate Internal Consistency. Also by applying Principle Component Analysis Method a valid dichotomous variable based on the overall standard score has been made and each household can be placed on an upper or lower class of the Socio-Economic situation