Effectiveness of stress management program on perceived stress and anxiety among medical students at Helwan University: An intervention study.

Background: Medical students in Egypt are increasingly susceptible to higher levels of stress and anxiety compared to their peers. The current study aimed to assess the effect of stress management intervention in decreasing their stress and anxiety levels. Design and methods: A randomized controlled study was conducted on two phases survey and intervention phase using perceived stress scale to assess stress and Beck Anxiety Inventory to assess anxiety. Students with moderate/severe stress in the survey stage were stratified randomized to intervention or control group (140 in each group). The program was composed of 12 sessions for 12 weeks. Stress and anxiety were re assessed immediately after and in 3 months post intervention. Results: There was no significant difference between the means of perceived stress between the intervention and control groups at the baseline (25.03 ± 3.18, 24.40 ± 3.15, p = 0.098). There was a significant higher mean score of perceived stress in the control group compared to intervention group immediately post intervention (33.39 ± 9.47, 24.40 ± 3.46, p < 0.001) and 3 months later (33.03 ± 9.40, 23.76 ± 3.37, p < 0.001). While there is no significant difference between the mean score of perceived anxiety between the intervention and control groups at the baseline, post intervention and in the follow up. Conclusions: The stress management program was effective in decreasing perceived stress level among medical students. The widespread implementation of the study program could help medical students for coping with their stress levels.