Stress Levels

Abstract

To explore the effect of pre-exam stress levels of final year medical students on their academic performance. Study Design: Cross sectional study. Setting: Students of final year MBBS class at Independent Medical College Faisalabad. Period: Session 2010 to 2015. Methodology: Medical Student Stressors Questionnaire (MSSQ) was used for this study. 1 All male and female students of final year MBBS class of Independent Medical College were included in the study. Collected data analyzed by using SPSS version 18. Mean stress values and chi-square tests were used to compare the levels of stress and its effect on their academic performance. Results: Study results indicate that students who pass were taking moderate to high degree of stress as compared to students who fail in examination were in mild to moderate degree of stress. In short, high achievers were more stressed as compared to low achievers. High achievers were more stressed with ARS (Academic Related Stressor) and TLRS (Teaching and Learning Related Stressor). Low achievers were more stressed with GARS (Group Activities Related Stressor) and SRS (Social Related Stressor). Conclusion: The study concludes that stress can be used as a positive factor to improve medical students' academic performance. The most important thing is that not only some stress is necessary for good performance but also students should learn how to manage well their stress levels to improve their academic performance. This study gives guidelines to other medical colleges for developing coping strategies; so that stress can be used as a positive factor to improve students' academic performance. There is a need for stress management and student support programs in medical colleges, So that students may not drop out from medical programs.