Dissertation
Medical student stress and wellness programs: an explanatory, sequential, mixed-methods study
Doctor of Education (Ed.D.), Drexel University
Sep 2020
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/00000147
Abstract
Medical students experience a high degree of stress, which can impact their emotional, psychological, and physical health and also negatively affect their academic performance. Medical educators, accrediting bodies, and policymakers are aware of this growing problem, and medical schools have instituted wellness programs with varying components including academic support, physical wellbeing, social extracurricular activities, psychological support services, student interest groups, faculty advising, and student mentoring programs. The purpose of this explanatory, sequential, mixed-methods research study was to examine medical students' perceived stress levels and their participation in wellness program initiatives that are instituted as a means of promoting medical student wellbeing. The research questions addressed in this study included (a) To what extent do medical students experience stress?, (b) Is there a significant difference in medical students' perceived stress level by demographics (class year, gender, age, race/ethnicity?, (c) In which school-sponsored wellness activities do medical students choose to participate to help them manage the stress associated with being a medical student?, and (d) How do medical students describe the role of different medical school-sponsored wellness programs as a means of reducing stress? This explanatory, sequential, mixed-methods research study surveyed 1,057 medical students at a large, urban, private, not-for-profit, Mid-Atlantic medical school during the dominant, quantitative phase. The qualitative phase then utilized a focus group interview to help clarify the results. This study helped increase the current knowledge base regarding how medical students utilize wellness programs to manage stress. Participants revealed sources of stress include high volume of work, lack of time, observing patient suffering, and the recent unanticipated changes related to the COVID-19 situation. Findings also indicated manifestations of stress include worry, fear, sleep disorders, appetite loss, weight loss, and lack of personal care. Furthermore, students provided insight into the positive and negative perceptions of wellness programs. This study helped increase the current knowledge base regarding how medical students utilize wellness programs to manage stress.
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Details
- Title
- Medical student stress and wellness programs
- Creators
- Donna Sandfort - Drexel University, School of Education
- Contributors
- Joy C. Phillips (Advisor)
- Awarding Institution
- Drexel University
- Degree Awarded
- Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)
- Publisher
- Drexel University; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Number of pages
- xiii, 159 pages
- Resource Type
- Dissertation
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- School of Education (1997-2026); Drexel University
- Other Identifier
- 991014695134504721