4-6th year medical students’ stress: Case study at medical center, Buddhachinaraj Hospital, Phitsanulok

Abstract

Background: Stress usually occurs in everyone during study and working. It will affect health if it still persists fora long time. Medical students have high risk to be stress because they have to study hard with highresponsibility. Effect of stress can deteriolate learning of medical students.

Objective: To study stress levels, the causes of the stress and stress management of 4th- 6th year medicalstudents at Buddhachinaraj hospital, Phitsanulok.

Method: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted by using questionnaire for all 4th- 6th year medicalstudents at Buddhachinaraj hospital, Phitsanulok. The questionnaire consisted of general information,level and cause of stress and management of stress. The data were analyzed and describedby frequency, percentage and Chi-square test.

Results: Most medical students experienced stress at moderate level. Learning was the principal causes ofstress. However, most of them could manage their stress by themselves and their family. The mostrelieving methods were talking with others and accepting what happened and doing hobby, respectively.The main activities to reduce their stress were playing internet, watching television, etc. The Nationallicense examination part 3 and the severity of their illness or their family member’s illness hadstatistically significant correlation with the stress.

Key words: Stress, Medical students, Stress management