Prevalence of stress-related exhaustion disorder symptoms among Lithuanian University of Health Sciences medical students

Abstract

Introduction In 2010, stress-related exhaustion disorder (ED) was introduced as medical diagnosis by the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare [1]. Stress-related ED is a clinical condition characterized by various psychological and physical symptoms of exhaustion developed in response to long-term psychosocial stress [2]. The main cause of exhaustion disorder is one or more stressors that persist for at least six months, more often it is work-related stress compared to another source of stress, such as personal life circumstances [1]. Aim To assess the prevalence of stress-related exhaustion disorder symptoms among Lithuanian University of Health Sciences medical students and to determine the relationship between experiencing stress-related exhaustion disorder and students' academic features. Methods The study was approved by the Bioethics center of Lithuanian University of Health Sciences (BEC-MF-102). The method of the research was based on a survey-observational study. The online questionnaire was shared online among groups of Lithuanian University of Health Sciences medical students. Statistical analysis was performed using the data collection and analysis software package SPSS 22. Statistical significance - p<0.05. Results There were 100 1st – 6th year medical students who participated in the survey, response rate -100/584. Mean age was 22.16 (±2.21) years. Mean academic average were 8.48 (±0.87) - the highest was set among 6th year students – 8.86 and the lowest among 3rd year students – 8.0 (p=0.005). Most respondents claimed about the following stress-related ED symptoms during the last 2 weeks: impaired concentration (77%; n=77), difficulty in completing tasks on time and controlling time (64%; n=64), emotional instability (69%; n=69), sleep disorders (53%; n=53), physical fatigue (55%; n=55), impaired memory (43%; n=43). During the study stress-related ED symptoms were divided into physical symptoms, psychological fatigue and with psychological fatigue related symptoms. Most common physical symptoms related to stress-related ED were gastrointestinal disorders (59%; n=59) and head dizziness (52%; n=52). Majority of respondents(88%; n=88) felt psychological fatigue and experience related symptoms: decreased initiative (83%; n=73), increased recovery time from stress (78.4%; n=69) and decreased endurance (64.8%; n=57). For many (85.2%; n=75) psychological fatigue lasts 2 weeks or longer and statistically significant difference between a higher academic average and longer duration of psychological fatigue was established (p=0.003). Higher academic average was related with more frequent emotional instability (p=0.047). Decreased endurance was mostly reported by 4th year students (p=0.036). 3rd year students more often reported no symptoms (p=0.026). Conclusions The most common stress-related ED symptoms were impaired concentration, difficulty in completing tasks on time and controlling time, emotional instability, physical symptoms, psychological fatigue and with psychological fatigue related symptoms. Stress- related ED symptoms are equally common between students of different study course. Decreased endurance was more often reported by 4th year students and 3rd year students were more likely to have no symptoms. However, regardless of the course of study, higher academic average is associated with longer duration of psychological fatigue and more frequent emotional instability.