Experience of Medical Students on Appearing in First Sub Stage of Anatomy

Background: Higher level of stress experienced by medical students has been found to have a negative effect on their cognitive learning. The first year MBBS student have to face the challenge of higher standards of course work and examination as compared to his previous school and college coursework. Moreover, student from rural background and living in hostel has to face additional challenges of coping with homesickness, hostel related and many financial problems. Aim: To determine the experience and feelings amongst First year MBBS students to the first sub stage in anatomy in different public and private medical colleges of Punjab. Method: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at Allama Iqbal Medical College, Lahore. A sample of 275 students of First year MBBS class were selected from both public and private sector of medical colleges in various cities of Punjab through convenience sampling technique. A self-administered structured questionnaire was prepared for data collection and distributed amongst First Year MBBS students. Data was entered and analyzed using SPSS 21. Results: The result of the study showed that 53.8% of First Year MBBS students were nervous before the first substage. Results of the study also showed that hostelites and females students were more nervous and these findings were statistically significant. Also our study showed that government medical college students were better prepared for their substage as compared to private college students and there is statistically significant difference between them (p < 0.00). Conclusion: Majority of First year MBBS students (58%) are facing increase level of stress during their first substage. Statistically significant higher stress levels are observed among females, hostellites. Keywords: First Year MBBS, Experience, Stress, First substage