Academic passion, perceived stress and sleep quality evaluated among medical students of private medical colleges in North Kerala
International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health (IJCMPH), 2023
ABSTRACT
Background: Passionate doctors are required for a better health care system. Increased p... more ABSTRACT
Background: Passionate doctors are required for a better health care system. Increased professional and academic
requirements increase risk of developing stress and sleep disruption. This study aims to determine the academic
passion, stress and sleep quality among medical students and explore the associations among them, which helps to
create awareness to improve the mental and physical health of future doctors.
Methods: This cross-sectional study among 649 MBBS students was done at 3 private medical colleges in North
Kerala during 2019-2020 using a semi-structured 31-item questionnaire containing 4 sections: socio-demographic
information, academic passion, perceived stress, and sleep quality. Data collected in 30 minutes from study
participants in campus setting was entered in MS excel and analyzed using SPSS-20.
Result: A 61.6% were women and 38.4% were men. 48% had chosen the profession because of parental pressure,
relatives and friends. 51% were passionate about the medical profession. 69% of students were under high perceived
stress (mean PSI score 33.54±8.71 SD). 48% of students were poor sleepers (mean PSQI score 6.11±3.45). A 15.6%
of participants relied on medication for sleep at least once a month. Passion showed a significant association with
stress (p<0.001) and sleep (p<0.001). Passionate students had less perceived stress and lower sleep quality.
Conclusions: Apart from one's own desire, other factors influenced students to choose MBBS. Only half of the
participants were passionate. There is a high prevalence of stress and poor sleep quality among medical students.
Passion has an imperative role in one’s life quality.
Keywords: Academic passion, Perceived stress, Sleep quality, MBBS
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Papers by ARPPANA THOMAS
Background: Passionate doctors are required for a better health care system. Increased professional and academic
requirements increase risk of developing stress and sleep disruption. This study aims to determine the academic
passion, stress and sleep quality among medical students and explore the associations among them, which helps to
create awareness to improve the mental and physical health of future doctors.
Methods: This cross-sectional study among 649 MBBS students was done at 3 private medical colleges in North
Kerala during 2019-2020 using a semi-structured 31-item questionnaire containing 4 sections: socio-demographic
information, academic passion, perceived stress, and sleep quality. Data collected in 30 minutes from study
participants in campus setting was entered in MS excel and analyzed using SPSS-20.
Result: A 61.6% were women and 38.4% were men. 48% had chosen the profession because of parental pressure,
relatives and friends. 51% were passionate about the medical profession. 69% of students were under high perceived
stress (mean PSI score 33.54±8.71 SD). 48% of students were poor sleepers (mean PSQI score 6.11±3.45). A 15.6%
of participants relied on medication for sleep at least once a month. Passion showed a significant association with
stress (p<0.001) and sleep (p<0.001). Passionate students had less perceived stress and lower sleep quality.
Conclusions: Apart from one's own desire, other factors influenced students to choose MBBS. Only half of the
participants were passionate. There is a high prevalence of stress and poor sleep quality among medical students.
Passion has an imperative role in one’s life quality.
Keywords: Academic passion, Perceived stress, Sleep quality, MBBS
Background: Passionate doctors are required for a better health care system. Increased professional and academic
requirements increase risk of developing stress and sleep disruption. This study aims to determine the academic
passion, stress and sleep quality among medical students and explore the associations among them, which helps to
create awareness to improve the mental and physical health of future doctors.
Methods: This cross-sectional study among 649 MBBS students was done at 3 private medical colleges in North
Kerala during 2019-2020 using a semi-structured 31-item questionnaire containing 4 sections: socio-demographic
information, academic passion, perceived stress, and sleep quality. Data collected in 30 minutes from study
participants in campus setting was entered in MS excel and analyzed using SPSS-20.
Result: A 61.6% were women and 38.4% were men. 48% had chosen the profession because of parental pressure,
relatives and friends. 51% were passionate about the medical profession. 69% of students were under high perceived
stress (mean PSI score 33.54±8.71 SD). 48% of students were poor sleepers (mean PSQI score 6.11±3.45). A 15.6%
of participants relied on medication for sleep at least once a month. Passion showed a significant association with
stress (p<0.001) and sleep (p<0.001). Passionate students had less perceived stress and lower sleep quality.
Conclusions: Apart from one's own desire, other factors influenced students to choose MBBS. Only half of the
participants were passionate. There is a high prevalence of stress and poor sleep quality among medical students.
Passion has an imperative role in one’s life quality.
Keywords: Academic passion, Perceived stress, Sleep quality, MBBS