Stress and coping strategies among under graduate medical students in Gezira University, Sudan

Background: Students during years of learning in university are exposed to many stressors mainly academic, financial, health and social.

Materials and Methods: It was a descriptive cross sectional study conducted among 310 under graduate medical students of the Faculty of Medicine University of Gezira from March to November 2020, aiming to assess stress and coping strategies among under graduated medical students. The data was collected using self administered questionnaire and perceived stress scale (PSS) of ten items, and analyzed by SPSS version 20, chi square tests were used to assess relationship between variables.

Results: The results revealed the following, (72.9%) have moderate stress, (16.1%) have severe stress .The most common type of stress was academic one (80%). (8.4%) of the student perceived academic, health, social and financial stressors .The most common academic stressors was unclear assignments (19.4%),the most common coping strategies was sleeping (32.9%).

Statically, analysis had revealed a significant association between the type of enrollment to the faculty and perceived stress (Chi-Square Test =24.036, p-value =0.02) and between perceived stress and the Cumulative Grade Point Average CGPA (Chi-Square Test 1580.2, p value=0.00).

Conclusion: A substantial number of medical students experience moderate level of stress, academic stressors was the most common stressors among under graduate medical students in this study which may have negative impact on student wellbeing and performance results also emphasis the need for further studies, particularly in the form of longitudinal follow-up.