An assessment of stress among clinical medical students of the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus.

This study looks at sources of stress among the medical students of the University of the West Indies at the Mona campus. Students of the classes 1993 through 1995 were asked to fill out a questionnaire which had been developed for a similar study at the University of Texas in 1983. The return rate was 66%. The results were compared for differences between males and females and between the different year groups. The two most stressful items were rated the same by men and women, i.e., 1) the amount of material to be learned, and 2) examinations and/or grades. There was no statistically significant difference between stress levels by gender in this study. The penultimate clinical year was most stressful. It is hoped that the findings of this study will be the basis for discussion about whether the identified stressors are inherent and necessary to the medical training experience and, if so, how students can be better prepared to cope with them.