Pusat Pengajian Sains Perubatan, Universiti Sains Malaysia
Abstract
Background: Being in medical school has always been regarded as highly stressful. Excessive physical and mental health problems. Persistent stress can impair students' acsdemic
achieomnent and personal or professional development. The aim of this study is to explore the nature
of stnss among medical students by determining the prevalence, sourcea and pattem of stress and
the fildors affecting it.
Methods: We chose a cross-sectional study design utilizing validated questionnaires, the 12
items General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) and Medical Student Stressor Questionnaire (MSSQ),
to evaluate stress levels and stressors. School and ethical committee clearance were obtained prior
to tbe study. Data were analysed using SPSS version 12 •
Results: Of the medical students who were administered the questionnaire, 761 (72%)
respondents participated in this study. The prevalence of stress among the medical students was
29.6%. The top 10 stressors were aeademic-related. Prevalence of stress for the first, second, third,
fourth and fifth year students was 26.3%, 36.5 %, 31.4%, 35·3% and 21.9%, respectively. Year of study
was the only significant factor affecting stress among medical students (P-value < o.os) .
Conclusions: The prevalence of stress among medical students in USM is high. Academic·
related problems were the ml\ior stressor among medical students. Year of study was the factor most
siguific:antly associated with medical students' stress. There was a bimodal pattern of the stress level
thruughout the year of study
