PERCEIVED STRESS IN UNDERGRADUATE MEDICAL AND NON-MEDICAL STUDENTS OF ANDAMAN & NICOBAR ISLANDS – A COMPARATIVE STUD

Abstract

Background: First year of medical training is a challenging period in the life of medical students. Adjusting to a demanding medical curriculum along with sudden transition to a medical college environment makes first year medical students vulnerable to stress. No studies have been reported so far on stress in medical students from the Andaman& Nicobar Islands. Aim: To evaluate the levels of perceived stress and explore its causes in first year medical students of Andaman Islands and compare it with non medical age matched students. 
 Materials & Methods: A comparative study was done on a total of 182 first year students (89 medical and 93 non-medicals) of Andaman & Nicobar Islands. After obtaining informed consent, an anonymous self-administered questionnaire was distributed to the study participants. The questionnaire included their sociodemographic details & Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) and stressors. The data was analyzed using SPSS software version 21.
 Results: The mean PSS score as measured by PSS-10 was 23.9+/- 6.15 SD in medical and 18.82 +/- 5.58 SD in non medical students. Independent sample t test demonstrated higher levels of perceived stress in medical students as compared to non medical students. Chi square test revealed association of higher PSS scores with the medical course of study. The most common stressors described by first year medical students belonged to the academic domain.
 Conclusion: Higher levels of perceived stress occurs in medical students which highlights need for implementation of appropriate stress management strategies to help students adjust to the demanding curriculum.
 Keywords: Stress, medical education, undergraduate, medical students, PSS-10