STRESS STATUS AMONG THIRD-YEAR MEDICAL STUDENTS AT THAI NGUYEN UNIVERSITY OF MEDICINE AND PHARMACY AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS IN THE ACADEMIC YEAR 2024–2025

Nguyen Dinh Hung1, Tran Quynh Anh2, Nguyen Thi Phuong Oanh2, Nguyen Thi Quyen1, Luong Thi Thu Hoai1
1 Thai Nguyen University of Medicine and Pharmacy
2 Hanoi Medical University

Main Article Content

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to describe the prevalence of stress and identify associated factors among third-year medical students at Thai Nguyen University of Medicine and Pharmacy in the academic year 2024–2025.


Subject and method: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among 423 third-year medical students from 4/2024 to 8/2025.


Results: The prevalence of stress among participants was 61.9%, with 69.5% of stressed students experiencing moderate to extremely severe levels. Factors significantly associated with stress included: female gender (OR = 1.90; p = 0.002), rural background (OR = 1.71; p = 0.009), low household economic status (OR = 5.36; p < 0.001), history of academic repetition (OR = 7.85; p < 0.001), lack of close friendships (OR = 1.93; p = 0.007), dissatisfaction with clinical training (OR = 1.53; p = 0.043), dissatisfaction with clinical on-call schedules (OR = 1.78; p = 0.030), and having part-time jobs (OR = 1.59; p = 0.022).


Conclusion: Stress is highly prevalent among third-year medical students and is influenced by a combination of individual, academic, and social factors. These findings highlight the urgent need for psychological support programs, adjustments in clinical training and scheduling, and early stress screening interventions to safeguard students’ mental health and academic performance.

Article Details

References

1. World Health Organization. Regional Office for the Eastern M. Stress. Cairo: World Health Organization. Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean; 2023. Available from: https://iris.who.int/handle/10665/375651.
2. World Health Organization. Mental health 2023 [Available from: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mental-health-strengthening-our-response.
3. Steiner-Hofbauer V, Holzinger A. How to Cope with the Challenges of Medical Education? Stress, Depression, and Coping in Undergraduate Medical Students. Academic Psychiatry. 2020;44(4):380-7.
4. Shadid A, Shadid AM, Shadid A, Almutairi FE, Almotairi KE, Aldarwish T, et al. Stress, burnout, and associated risk factors in medical students. Cureus. 2020;12(1).
5. Eva EO, Islam MZ, Mosaddek ASM, Rahman MF, Rozario RJ, Iftekhar AFMH, et al. Prevalence of stress among medical students: a comparative study between public and private medical schools in Bangladesh. BMC Research Notes. 2015;8(1):327.
6. Ragab EA, Dafallah MA, Salih MH, Osman WN, Osman M, Miskeen E, et al. Stress and its correlates among medical students in six medical colleges: an attempt to understand the current situation. Middle East Current Psychiatry. 2021;28(1):75.
7. Lâm Văn Minh, Tạ Thị Thanh Mơ, Nguyễn Thị Mỹ Ngọc, Nguyễn Thị Ngọc Phương. Thực trạng stress của sinh viên khoa Y tại Trường Đại học Công nghệ Đồng Nai năm 2023. Tạp chí Y học Việt Nam. 2023;527(1B).
8. Trần Thị Hoàng Yến, Nguyễn Hồ Hải Anh, Huỳnh Út Giào, Lâm KH, Điểu R, Phạm TT, et al. Stress và một số yếu tố liên quan ở sinh viên y khoa Trường Đại học Y Dược Cần Thơ năm 2021. Tạp chí Y Dược học Cần Thơ. 2023(54):31-7.
9. Willcock SM, Daly MG, Tennant CC, Allard BJ. Burnout and psychiatric morbidity in new medical graduates. Medical Journal of Australia. 2004;181(7):357-60.
10. Dyrbye LN, Thomas MR, Shanafelt TD. Medical student distress: causes, consequences, and proposed solutions. 12 ed: Elsevier; 2005 2005. 1613-22 p.
11. Mosley Jr TH, Perrin SG, Neral SM, Dubbert PM, Grothues CA, Pinto BM. Stress, coping, and well-being among third-year medical students. Academic Medicine. 1994;69(9):765-7.
12. Lovibond PF, Lovibond SH. The structure of negative emotional states: Comparison of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS) with the Beck Depression and Anxiety Inventories. Behaviour research and therapy. 1995;33(3):335-43.
13. Salam A, Mahadevan R, Abdul Rahman A, Abdullah N, Abd Harith AA, Shan CP. Stress among First and Third Year Medical Students at University Kebangsaan Malaysia. Pak J Med Sci. 2015;31(1):169-73.
14. Nguyễn Văn Lượt, Nguyễn Ngọc Quang, Giang Thị Thanh Mai, Nguyễn Linh Chi. Động lực học tập và chiến lược ứng phó với stress trong học tập của sinh viên. Tạp chí Tâm lý học. 2019;4:81-97.
15. Lazarus RS, Folkman S. Stress, appraisal, and coping: Springer publishing company; 1984.