STRESS LEVELS

Objectives: To explore the effect of pre-exam stress levels of final year medicalstudents on their academic performance. Study Design: Cross sectional study. Setting:Students of final year MBBS class at Independent Medical College Faisalabad. Period: Session2010 to 2015. Methodology: Medical Student Stressors Questionnaire (MSSQ) was used forthis study.1 All male and female students of final year MBBS class of Independent MedicalCollege were included in the study. Collected data analyzed by using SPSS version 18. Meanstress values and chi-square tests were used to compare the levels of stress and its effecton their academic performance. Results: Study results indicate that students who pass weretaking moderate to high degree of stress as compared to students who fail in examination werein mild to moderate degree of stress. In short, high achievers were more stressed as comparedto low achievers. High achievers were more stressed with ARS (Academic Related Stressor)and TLRS (Teaching and Learning Related Stressor). Low achievers were more stressed withGARS (Group Activities Related Stressor) and SRS (Social Related Stressor). Conclusion: Thestudy 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 necessaryfor good performance but also students should learn how to manage well their stress levelsto improve their academic performance. This study gives guidelines to other medical collegesfor developing coping strategies; so that stress can be used as a positive factor to improvestudents’ academic performance. There is a need for stress management and student supportprograms in medical colleges, So that students may not drop out from medical programs.