Physical therapy students’ perceived levels and sources of stress during clinical education experiences

Abstract

Purpose: Stress has been linked to poor performance and mental health disorders in health professions students. Very little is known about health professions students’ stress during clinical education. The purpose of this study was to explore the levels and sources of stress experienced by Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) students during the clinical education portion of their curriculum. Methods: In this cross-sectional, descriptive study, 925 first-, second-, and third-year DPT students from eight Midwestern colleges and universities were invited to complete an electronic survey during a clinical experience. The survey included demographic information, the 10-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and the Undergraduate Sources of Stress (USOS) scale. Results: The response rate was 28% with a total of 259 returned surveys. The mean PSS score was 14.15 out of a possible 40, with a range from 0 to 30. There were significant differences in levels of stress based on program year and clinical level. No significant differences in level or sources of stress were noted based on gender or clinical setting. Academic sources were the greatest source of stress reported. Amount of student debt and percentage of responsibility for graduate education were significantly correlated with financial sources of stress. Conclusion: Participants in this study reported mean PSS scores during clinical education experiences similar to those previously reported for physical therapy. Identifying perceived stress levels, sources of stress, and mitigating factors has the potential to improve the health of students and positively impact patient care.