An evaluation of the level of stress and the characteristics of stressors experienced by postgraduate students at a medical institution in Nepal; a descriptive cross-sectional study

• Published in: Journal of Advanced Medical and Dental Sciences Research Vol. 11; no. 3; pp. 16 - 22
• Main Authors: Shrestha, Anil, Joshi, Sulochana, Pandit, Rohit, Paudel, Shailes
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amritsar Journal of Advanced Medical and Dental Sciences Research (JAMDSR) 01.03.2023
• Subjects: Colleges & universities; Cross-sectional studies; Graduate studies; Health care facilities; Health sciences; Medical residencies; Medical students; Population; Population studies; Questionnaires; Response rates; Sociodemographics; Stress; Working conditions; Working hours; Nepal
• ISSN: 2321-9599
• DOI: 10.21276/jamdsr

Background: Postgraduate medical residency is a demanding and stressful period of training for doctors, with long working hours, heavy workloads, and high patient care responsibilities. The aim of this study is to identify levels of stress and stressors among residents at a tertiary care center. Method: A descriptive cross-sectional analytical study was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire at the Patan Academy of Health Sciences, a tertiary care medical college in Nepal, from October to November 2022. The study population included all 1st, 2nd, and 3rd-year postgraduate residents from different departments, and the study instrument was a pre-designed, pre-tested, self-administered, and structured questionnaire. Result: Out of 130 residents, 23 (17.7%) reported no stress, 32 (24.6%) reported mild stress, 26 (20%) reported moderate stress, and 49 (37.7%) reported severe stress. The major causes of stress in our study were time pressure and deadlines to meet (degree of stress mean (SD): 2.65 (0.995)) and a large amount of content to be learned (degree of stress mean (SD): 2.58 (1.002)). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that the stress levels among residents at our study site are higher than in other nations. Medical institutions in our country should implement supportive measures, such as counseling, mentorship, and work-hour adjustments, to address the issue of stress among medical residents. By providing residents with the resources they need to manage stress, medical institutions can improve residents' well-being and ultimately help them succeed in their medical careers.