Effects of a "Brief Stress Management Training Program" from Medical Students’ Viewpoints: A Qualitative Study

Introduction: Medical students undergo many stressors during various stages of medical education and must learn to cope with their new situation. Some studies have reported that stress management training methods have significant effects on decreasing stress in medical students. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a “Stress Management Training Session” from medical students’ viewpoints.

Methods: This study design employed a qualitative phenomenological research method. Using a goal-directed sampling method, medical students in the psychiatry ward during 3 months, participated in a “Stress Management Training Session”. In this section, the nature of stress and some simple techniques for stress management were taught practically. After 1 month, participants cooperated in 3 focus group discussions. In the FGDs students explained their experiences in the stress management session and its effectiveness. After recording and writing discussions, subjects’ content was analyzed.

Results: In total, 6 themes and 2:10 subthemes materialized from data analysis. In the students’ opinions, learning and using stress management techniques had good effects on their stress, sleep and headaches. Although some students didn’t notice to the efficacy on concentration, others believed stress management techniques were useful for learning and concentration.

Conclusion: Based on the medical students’ opinions, learning and using stress management techniques had good effects on their stress, sleep and headaches and may improve concentration and learning quality.