A CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY ON THE FACTORS RELATED TO CIGARETTE SMOKING INITIATION AMONG 1ST YEAR MEDICAL STUDENTS OF FAR EASTERN UNIVERSITY-NICANOR REYES MEDICAL FOUNDATION

ABSTRACT: With increasing number of student population, recent change of academic curriculum, improvement of school facilities and building, this study aims to explore the current stress level, stressors and coping strategies of FEU-NRMF Medical Students from 1st to 3rd year level chosen via stratified random sampling by determining the prevalence of stress, sources of stress and coping strategies employed among students. This is a cross-sectional study that describes the profile of students as to year level and sex; compares the level of stress, sources of stress, and coping strategies, respectively. Statistical analyses have shown that there is a significant relationship between the level of stress and the year level a medical student is in. There is also no significant difference between sex of medical students and the level of stress they are in. Academic related stressor (ARS) is the stressor that causes the highest level of stress among 1st to 3rd year medical students of FEU-NRMF. The major coping mechanism for the 1st year students is Religion, for 2nd year students are Positive reinterpretation & Growth as well as Active Coping, and for 3rd year students are both Religion and Positive reinterpretation & Growth to manage stress. Furthermore, the relationship of year level to the stressors and the relationship of sex to the stressors are non-significant.

Department of Community & Family Medicine