Identification of stressors and Perceptional difference of stress in first and final year Doctor of Physical Therapy students; a comparative study.

The aim of the study is to identify the main causes of stress and to identify the perception difference of stress in first and final year DPT students Students in universities can experience stress in balancing the different demands on them - academic, interpersonal, intrapersonal, and professional or work related. A comparative Cross-sectional study was conducted using self-administered questionnaires including socio demographics A total of 177 university students (first year 109 & final year 68 students) were included in the period March, to September 2015 in a private medical college Islamabad. Significantly valid tool (The Medical Student Stressor Questionnaire) (MSSQ) was used to measure the stress level. The research was conducted according to the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. Three stressors academic related inter/intrapersonal related and group activities related stressors were causing high stress in all DPT students. There was significant difference in perception of stressors among first and final year DPT students.