Keywords
Medical School
Perceived Stress
Stress
How to Cite
Abstract
Background: Psychological distress is high in medical undergraduate students which has a huge impact on their mental health and academic performance.
Objectives: This study aimed to assess the prevalence of stress among medical students and potential factors contributing to stress levels among undergraduate medical students at Kathmandu Medical College Teaching Hospital (KMCTH) in Nepal.
Methods: An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted among undergraduate medical students at KMCTH between 2023 August 13 to 2023 December 16 using convenience sampling. Ethical approval was obtained from the Institutional Review Committee of Kathmandu Medical College and the calculated sample size was determined to be 378. Data were collected with a questionnaire containing socio-demographic questions and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) to assess stress levels.
Results: Among the 378 participants, 48 (12.7%) reported high stress, 295 (78%) moderate stress, and 35 (9.3%) low stress. Gender differences were evident, with female students having significantly more preponderance to high perceived stress (36, 20.3%) than males (12, 6%). Final-year students reported the greatest percentage (7, 23.3%) of high perceived stress.
Conclusion: The study reveals a high level of stress among medical students at KMCTH, particularly in the final year and among female students. Strategies to reduce stress, such as aligning the curriculum with the duration of study and further investigating the causes of higher stress in females, are crucial for improving mental health and preventing stressrelated illnesses.
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