Conference 2021 Pre-Recorded Video

 

Project title

The association of stress management with compliance towards preventive measures of COVID-19 in medical students in Pakistan: A cross-sectional study

 

Authors and Affiliations

Shoaib Ahmad1, Hiba Khan2, Meh Sinha3,Don Prisno Eliseo Lucero III4

1. Punjab Medical College, Faisalabad, Pakistan
2. Dubai Medical College, Dubai
3. Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore, India
4. Department of Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom

 

Abstract

Background

The adherence to preventive measures of COVID-19 with the novel evidence based in our research can be further implemented as a non-pharmacological therapy for low grade stress and anxiety. Plus, this study can be used as proof that abiding by the recommendations is in fact a stress reliever on its own and can help persuade the population to follow preventive measures more, allowing for an even more biddable society to control the outbreak.The basic aim was to investigate relationship between managing stress and the compliance to preventive measures of COVID-19. Plus, to identify a psychological gain that comes with following recommended preventive measures. 

Methods

A cross-sectional study with 1342 medical students was conducted in medical colleges across Pakistan. On 30th May 2020, a questionnaire to assess preventive measures and stress management was placed at end of a national quiz competition that had good reliability (Chronbach’s Alpha > 0.7) and validity. Chi square and T test were used for comparison among groups. IBM SPSS 26.0 was used for data analysis.

Results

Out of 1342 medical students, 881(65.6%) were females and 461(34.4%) males. 1021 participants (76%) of the sample who claimed they could manage stress had a better mean score of 11.33 ± 1.79 (out of 13) for preventive practices in comparison to a score of 10.09 ± 2.92 for the 321 (24%) participants who couldn’t manage stress (p=0.000). Amazingly, they also responded positively to all 13 preventive measure questions with p values for all being 0.000 except the one related to calling health authorities when exhibiting minor symptoms. 

Conclusions

There is a strong association between managing stress and compliance to preventive measures which hasn’t been established before in literature. Those who follow preventive measures have more chances of being able to manage stress.