Stress Levels in Medical Students Studying in Conventional Versus Modular System

Background: Medical students have been reported to experience stress due to various factors, of which the system of education plays a major role. Objective: To compare the stress levels in medical students studying in conventional/Conventional (Annual) and integrated modular system of medical education in medical colleges affiliated with a government sector university in Lahore. Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted on medical students of five medical colleges in Lahore. Two classes, MBBS second and fourth years. The duration of study was from November 2024 to March 2025. Data was collected using the 2020 version of student stress inventory (SSI), and was analyzed using R-language version 4.5.2. Results: Among the students from Conventional system, 33% (n=31) students experienced low; 54% (n=51) students experienced moderate; whereas 14% (n=13) students experienced severe academic stress. Among students from the modular system, 52% (n=49) students experienced low; 47% (n=45) students experienced moderate; and 1% (n=1) students experienced severe academic stress (p value <0.001). Whereas, among the Conventional system students; 46% (n=44) students experienced low; 42% (n=40) students experienced moderate; and 12% (n=11) students experienced severe overall stress. And among the modular system students; 63% (n=60) students experienced low; 37% (n=35) students experienced moderate; whereas 0% (n=0) students experienced severe overall stress (p value = 0.001). Conclusion: Stress levels are higher in medical students studying in Conventional system, as compared to those studying in modular system, in medical colleges, affiliated with the UHS.