An investigation of stress and anxiety among health professions students in the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: Early studies during the COVID-19 pandemic identify the dissonance between feeling anxious about contracting the illness and the innate desire to serve the sick, as a main stressor for students.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to better understand psychological stress and self-reported wellness of Physician Assistant (PA), Physical Therapy (PT), dental, and medical students during the early portions of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: We utilized the 10-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) together with additional questions to assess self-perceived stress, anxiety, and wellness of healthcare students.