Stress in medical undergraduates; its association with academic performance.

ABSTRACT

Objectives: To explore the difference in level of perceived stress among medical undergraduates of various classes and its association with their academic performance. Methodology: This observational study was conducted by the faculty members at University Medical & Dental College Faisalabad, Pakistan during six months period from October 2012 to March 2013. All the regular medical undergraduate students of five academic years MBBS from 2007 to 2012 were included in the study. The stress level of the students was determined by PSS 14 and the factors leading to stress were evaluated by a predesigned questionnaire. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 19. ANOVA and chi-square tests were used to compare the level of stress among various classes and its causative factors. Results: Mean PSS was highest for final year students. Third year MBBS had significant difference in stress level both with first year (p=0.042) and final year MBBS (p=0.004). High achievers were less stressed as compared to low achievers (p=0.006). Consecutive boring lectures, lack of time for recreation, gap between students and teacher followed by difficulty selecting the reading material turned out to be the major stressors. Conclusion: Students of all the five academic years experience stress and the final year MBBS is the most stressed one. On the other hand low academic achievement group is more stressed as compared to high academic achievers from all the five classes. Student support programs to combat stress may be planned to improve their quality of life and their academic scores as well.