Perceived Stress and Coping Strategies among Medical Undergraduates in Pakistan

Abstract

Background: Stress is very common and alarming problem among medical students now days. There are so many outcomes related to chronic stress like certain negative mental and physical health consequences can occur due to long standing stress. Objective: This study explores possible outcomes of the condition of stress among the medical students and their coping strategies. Study Design: Cross sectional study. Settings: All five years of medical students of Jinnah Medical and Dental College, Karachi Pakistan. Duration: This study duration was 1^st January’21 to 31^st December’21. Methods: This study constitutes total of 264 students whom actively get engaged in the study. As well this purposeful sample covered senior students who had already fulfilled various clinical rotations in tertiary care hospital. Among the participants semi structured interviews were conducted, in which many structured questionnaire was utilized. Results: The study revealed that about 264 out of 300 students 300 (88%) was filled in the questionnaire. Out of 264 students, 150 were females and 114 were males. Ninety-four percent of the male share physiological and emotional stress. The entire senior under graduate students belongs form fourth and a final year of Jinnah Medical and Dental College feels more stress which exceeds approximately 95%and 98% respectively. Mood swings, poor concentration and loss of temper perceived as common symptoms. Powerful stress during the academics and exams. Coping mechanisms include sports, music or hanging out with friends. Conclusion: It has been observed by the study that although student life is very much exciting and fruitful but it can also be very much affected by environmental conditions and several others challenges by others, because of its transitional duration. Apart from it there are so many challenges which the students can face practically. So there is need to consider not only the education and knowledge of medical students as well as their professional training but there is need to evaluate and enhance their quality of life during the whole tenure (in between and after medical school years for their upbringings in professional life and career growth. It has been concluded that Medical students are those pupils whom always trying and still struggling for the achievement of their goals by certain healthy and justified fruitful and healthy stress coping strategies. In this regard the substantial need for the implementation of stress management programs in order to stimulates the students’ coping capabilities.