Creating smiles amidst stress: A questionnaire based study

Introduction: Dentistry is considered as a stressful field in the medical profession. The study was conducted to determine the different problems faced by dental students, and the effect of these stressors on their lives. Materials and Methods: A modified dental environmental stress (D.E.S) questionnaire was administered to students of 1st year B.D.S to final year B.D.S and Interns. The questionnaire had 35 questions divided into five categories: Demographic data, living/accommodation stressors, personal stressors, academic stressors, and clinical stressors. Statistical significance between the mean D.E.S scores of gender and years of study was compared using t-test and one-way ANOVA. Results: A total of 292 students completed and returned the questionnaire with a response rate of 74.8%. The overall mean D.E.S score of females was higher (2.37 ± 0.44) when compared to males (2.23 ± 0.45). The overall D.E.S scores differed among the students of different academic years with the 2nd year students being more stressed (2.45 ± 0.52) as compared to the students of other academic years. Discussion: Understanding the various causes of stress in students is very much necessary to set up a curriculum that is student - friendly and at the same time, effective enough. Conclusion: Clinical and academic work causing increased amount of stress can be brought down by the student, if he/she simplifies their schedule, practices breathing exercises, performs yoga, etc