Association of Depression, Anxiety and Stress in Medical Students Studying in Modular, Semester and Annual Examination System

Abstract

Background: When there are high demands besides less resources, a person experiences a feeling of fear that is known as “Stress”. Students of professional schools/colleges and universities are encounter more stress than the general population as they are in a transitory phase from adolescence to adulthood. It has been highlighted that medical education has greater association with stress. There are three examination systems that are been followed by medical colleges of Pakistan (modular, semester and annual systems). However, to the best of our knowledge, no data is available to show the association of stress with current examination systems in our country.
 Aims: The objectives of our study were to find out the association of stress with different examination systems and to identify the frequency of stress causing and coping factors adopted by 1st, 2nd and 3rd year medical students studying in colleges having different examination systems i.e. modular, semester and annual.
 Study Design: Comparative cross-sectional study.
 Place & Duration of Study: This study was conducted from December 2018 to April 2019 in three medical colleges of Sindh having above mentioned examination systems.
 Study Population: Medical students of 1st 2nd and 3rd year.
 Methodology: To assess depression, anxiety and stress among study population, DASS Scale was used. To identify the stress causing and coping factors in the students Likert scale based proforma with 19 factors were given to the selected participants
 Results: There was no significant association of examination system with depression, anxiety and stress, however various stress causing and coping factors were found significant in altering medical student`s life.
 Conclusion: According to our study, the frequency of stress in the medial students has no association with the examination systems (modular, semester and annual), currently followed by the medical colleges in Sindh, Pakistan.

Influence of Excessive Mobile Phone Use on Anxiety and Academic Performance among Medical College Students

“…The hazardous effects are not only limited to eyes but its unlimited use may lead to a variety of health problems including cardiac disease, tumors, weight gain, depression and anxiety [19,20]. In a study regarding stress and its coping factors, it was highlighted that students use these devices and its various application to overcome the stress of studies and exams [21]. The relationship between over-use of cell-phones, internet addiction and sleep quality is reported by several workers [22][23][24][25].…”

Prevalence of smoking cigarettes and beliefs regarding smoking habits among medical students: a cross-sectional study in Sudan

“…Medical students should be role models in health, educate their peers about the effects of smoking and its impact on health, and represent the top of the pyramid regarding their impact on the beliefs and attitudes of others ( 11 ). Smoking among university students is usually due to imitation and influence of fellow smokers or accompanying groups.…”

Beyond the White Coat: Navigating Stress and Coping Strategies in a Medical College of Karachi

“…Most of the individuals in the medical profession are stressed due to the extensive curriculum, competitive environment, clinical workload, and poor work-life balance. Increased stress and anxiety levels may lead to poor academic performance (Ali et al, 2019). Stress is the wear and tear our bodies experience as we adjust to our continually changing environment.…”