PERCEIVED STRESS LEVEL AMONG MEDICAL STUDENTS

Shafiq Ur Rahman; Ameer Afzal Khan; Rahman Syed; Waqar Ahmad; Hamayun Khan; Ishaq Ahmad; Muhammad Dawood

doi:10.63050/jpps.22.03.985

Shafiq Ur Rahman House officer, Department of medicine, Saidu group of teaching hospital (SGTH), Swat
Ameer Afzal Khan Saidu Medical college
Rahman Syed Swat Medical College https://orcid.org/0009-0009-4227-0440
Waqar Ahmad House officer, Department of medicine, Saidu group of teaching hospital (SGTH), Swat
Hamayun Khan House officer, Department of medicine, Saidu group of teaching hospital (SGTH), Swat
Ishaq Ahmad House officer, Department of medicine, Saidu group of teaching hospital (SGTH), Swat
Muhammad Dawood House officer, Department of medicine, Saidu group of teaching hospital (SGTH), Swat

DOI: https://doi.org/10.63050/jpps.22.03.985

Keywords: perceived stress, medical students, stress level

Abstract

ABSTRACT
Objective
To assess perceived stress levels among medical students and identify key stressors.

Study design
Cross sectional study design was used.

Place and duration of study
The study was conducted in Saidu Medical College over a period of 3 months from 10 May to 11 August 2024.

Subjects and Methods
This quantitative, descriptive study enrolled students who consented for participation, while non-consenting were excluded. A self-administered questionnaire was used to gather data, which included demographic inquiries and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-14). Means for continuous parameters and frequencies for categorical parameters were used for analysis.

Results
Out of 180 students, 150 completed questionnaires. The sample included 61 females (40.6%) and 89 males (59.4%). Most respondents were boarders (72.6%) and single (93.3%). Stress levels revealed 24 students (16%) with low stress, 37 (24.6%) with moderate stress, and 89 (59.3%) with high stress. Males reported 23.6% low, 23.6% moderate, and 52.8% high stress, while females reported 28.26% low, 18.03% moderate, and 53.69% high stress. First-year students had the lowest stress, while final-year students experienced the highest overall stress.

Conclusion

The study concludes that medical students, especially those in their last year, report high levels of stress, with substantial gender differences. These results highlight the necessity of focused treatments to improve the wellbeing of students and deal with particular pressures in medical school.

Key words
Perceived Stress, Medical Students, Stress Level

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