Stress amongst Dental Students at an Emerging Medical University

Stress among dental students is a significant problem and affects both individual well-being and rates of academic failure. The objectives of this research were to identify stressors affecting students at a medical university in a developing country. The investigation utilised an experimental research design using a purposive sample. A quantitative survey questionnaire, the Modified Dental Environment Stress (DES) questionnaire, was used. The instrument is standardised and has a reliability index of Cronbach’s α = 0.92. Ethical clearance was obtained through the appropriate university committees. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and the Pearson’s Chi square test. Findings were that females reported higher stress levels than males. Third-year students had the highest total stress scores which coincided with the onset of patient care. Other results found that prosthodontics was reported as the most stressful rotation in the programme in terms of mis-communication and poor professional relationships.