What are stressors for medical students?

Everyone have encountered stressors in their daily life either they do realise or they don't realise about it. Stressors is defined as anything that can cause stress to persons either physically or psychologically. We should realise that stressors are different depending on persons' characteristics, surrounding environment, cultures and beliefs. If that so, then why we are so bothered about stressors? Does it really important to know our stressors? If we know our stressors, what can we do about it? These are some questions that come across in our mind.

Medical students are vulnerable to stress. We know that stress is caused by stressors. By knowing their stressors we can find ways to prevent and overcome it. What are stressors for medical students? Many studies have been conducted to look for medical students' stressors. Most of the studies reported that there are 10 most common stressors in medical students and most of them course-related. The top 5 most common stressors that were reported are time pressure, tests and examinations, getting behind in the work, heavy workload and unclear lectures. Other stressors are commonly cited such as financial problems, relationship problems, getting poor marks, family problems, and conflicting demands. Overall pattern of stressors is the same regardless of curriculum adopted by medical schools, eventhough frequency of some stressors might be significantly different.

Now, we know causes of stress among medical students, therefore what can we do about it? Most of stressors are related to course contents, therefore it is unrealistic and impossible to reduce the contents to overcome this problem because to be a competent doctor those contents are essential and crucial. Therefore, solution for this is medical schools and teachers must teach their students how to manage and cope with stress. Perhaps, during first year orientation program, medical school can arrange so called stress-reduction program such as mini workshops on stress management, coping skills and appropriate learning approaches for effective learning in medical course. By doing this at least medical students aware and alert about possible stressors they will face in the future. Therefore, they will proactivley find ways and strategies to prevent and overcome possible stressors that they will face later on. If such measures can be materialised by medical schools, perhaps it can help in reducing students' stress and indirectly can improve medical students well-being. As a result, medical schools can produce healthy and competent doctors.