Stress levels of dental students at the Fiji School of Medicine

Abstract

Introduction: The Fiji School of Medicine is the primary health care educational institution in Fiji and possesses the only dental school in the Pacific. The oral health programme is a multi‐entry/exit programme. The aim of this study was to determine the perceived sources or stress and at risk groups within the undergraduate oral health care programmes. Methods: A modified version of the Dental Environment Stress questionnaire was used to assess levels of stress for 41 items. Results: A total of 115 undergraduate students participated (response rate = 84%). Of the respondents, 54% were male and 46% were female; 55% were Indo‐Fijians, 18% Indigenous‐Fijians, 8% Polynesians, 7% Micronesians, whilst Melanesians and others were each 6%. Moderate to severe stressful items were: full loaded day, followed by criticism from clinical supervisors in front of patients, amount of assigned work, fear of failing a course or year, examination and grades, financial resources, fear of employment after graduation and fear of facing parents after failure. Of the questionnaire items, 24% had significant differences across year groups. Overall, third years were most stressed followed by fourth years, fifth years, first years and second years. Indo‐Fijians were the most stressed, followed by Indigenous‐Fijians, Polynesians, others and Melanesians. Females were significantly more stressed than males for 27% of items. Private fee‐paying students were more stressed than sponsored students. Conclusion: Overall stress levels were slight to moderate and were higher in senior years, Indo‐Fijians, females and private fee‐paying students.