Title: Assessment of Mental Stress among First Year Medical Students and Change in Level of Stress before Examination
Authors: Snigdha Prava Mishra, Minati Patnaik
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v5i3.03
Abstract
Background and Aim: Students are exposed to new educational environment when they enter medical colleges. Huge syllabus, peer stress, stress of hostel life and examination are among the major factors for development of stress in medical students. We carried out this study to assess prevalence of stress among medical students and to find out the change in level of stress before examination.
Materials and Methods: Two stage surveys were carried out among first year medical students 8 weeks and 1 week before first professional M.B.B.S. examination. Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10) was used to record the response about perceived stress. Questionnaire was distributed among 116 students after verbal consent. Collected filled up questionnaire was coded in Microsoft Excel® spreadsheet. Data were presented as mean, standard deviation and percentage. Chi-square test and t-test were used according to necessity in Microsoft Excel®.
Results: Survey carried out 8 weeks before examination had 94% survey response rate. Sixty nine percent students had different level of stress, among them 17% had severe stress. Survey carried out 1 week before examination had survey response rate 84%. In this stage, 94% students had stress, among them 37% had severe stress and increase in stress level was statistically significant (p<0.0001). Mean score of individual item of the scale also showed increase in stress among students 1 week before examination.
Conclusion: Majority of first year medical students have mild to moderate level of stress. Stress level increases before the examination. Most of them have moderate to severe stress before examination.
Keywords: Kessler Psychological Distress Scale, Medical students, Perceived stress, Psychological distress.
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