IMPACT OF POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS OF COVID-19 ON MENTAL WELLBEING OF UNDERGRADUATE MEDICAL STUDENTS IN PAKISTAN

Objective: To determine frequency of post-traumatic stress among undergraduate medical students in Pakistan due to COVID-19. Study Design: Web based cross-sectional survey. Place and Duration of Study: Sahiwal Medical College Sahiwal, from 1st May 2020 to 31st May 2020. Methodology: Post-traumatic stress due to COVID-19 was assessed by using Impact of Event scale revised version (IES-R). Questionnaire was distributed with use of Whatsapp messenger to 450 students. Results: Out of total, 410 responded so response rate of our study was 91.11%. Major percentage of our study population was female (74.9%). All are aged between 18-23. Majority belong to 4th year MBBS (153-37.3%). Third year was second on the list on the basis of percentage (98-23.9%). Severe cases of post-traumatic stress were 72 (17.60%) out of 410 study participants and moderate category included 150 (36.50%) participants. The frequency rate of severe cases of post-traumatic stress in female medical undergraduates was found to be higher (77.80%). Our study found statistically significant result when frequency rate of post-traumatic stress was associated with institution (p=0.031). The frequency rate of severe and moderate post-traumatic cases was higher in other institutions (59.73% and 51.34% respectively). Conclusion: The severity of post-traumatic stress is quite evident in all the MBBS students generally while in female students specifically in our study.