Perceived Medical School stress of undergraduate medical students predicts academic performance: an observational study

BMC Medical Education

Research Article

Edgar Voltmer¹  Linda Brüheim²  Josefin Wagner³  Thomas Kötter⁴ 

[1] Chair of Health Sciences, Friedensau Adventist University, An der Ihle 19, 39291, Möckern-Friedensau, Germany;Department of Quality Management and Organizational Development, University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23562, Lübeck, Germany;Division of Teaching and Learning, Lübeck Medical School, University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23562, Lübeck, Germany;Institute of Social Medicine and Epidemiology, University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23562, Lübeck, Germany;

关键词: Education;    Medical;    Undergraduate;    Students;    Medical;    Stress;    Psychological;    Questionnaires and surveys;    Assessment;    Educational;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12909-017-1091-0

 received in 2016-08-02, accepted in 2017-12-04,  发布年份 2017

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundMedical students are exposed to high amounts of stress. Stress and poor academic performance can become part of a vicious circle. In order to counteract this circularity, it seems important to better understand the relationship between stress and performance during medical education. The most widespread stress questionnaire designed for use in Medical School is the “Perceived Medical School Stress Instrument” (PMSS). It addresses a wide range of stressors, including workload, competition, social isolation and financial worries. Our aim was to examine the relation between the perceived Medical School stress of undergraduate medical students and academic performance.MethodsWe measured Medical School stress using the PMSS at two different time points (at the end of freshman year and at the end of sophomore year) and matched stress scores together with age and gender to the first medical examination (M1) grade of the students (n = 456).ResultsPMSS scores from 2 and 14 months before M1 proved to be significant predictors for medical students’ M1 grade. Age and gender also predict academic performance, making older female students with high stress scores a potential risk group for entering the vicious circle of stress and poor academic performance.ConclusionsPMSS sum scores 2 and 14 months before the M1 exam seem to have an independent predictive validity for medical students’ M1 grade. More research is needed to identify potential confounders.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© The Author(s). 2017