Asia Pacific Journal of Health Management

Prevalence and Determinants of Psychological Stress Among Medical Interns in a Tertiary Teaching Institute of Eastern India: A Cross-Sectional Study

2026-08-28T19:45:19+00:00

Background: The medical internship year is physically and emotionally exhausting. The psychological toll taken during this period not only dictates a young doctor's risk of long-term burnout but also directly influences the safety and quality of patient care they provide. This study aims to determine the prevalence of psychological stress among medical interns and statistically evaluate its association with socio-demographic factors, occupational hazards, and academic restrictions.

Methods: We conducted an analytical cross-sectional study among 140 medical interns stationed across various clinical departments at a tertiary care teaching hospital in Eastern India. Mental well-being was assessed using the standardized Kessler 10 (K10) questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson’s Chi-square test, and unadjusted Odds Ratios (OR) to quantify risk (p<0.05).

Results: Overall, 37.86% of the participating interns experienced moderate to severe psychological stress. While we observed trends suggesting higher stress burdens among female interns (44.20%) and those posted in the high-acuity Emergency department (62.50%), these demographic and departmental variables did not reach statistical significance. However, our advanced analysis revealed a triad of significant pathogenic drivers: severe sleep deprivation (more than or equal to10 sleepless nights; p=0.001, OR = 7.32), alcohol consumption (p=0.037, OR = 2.63), and severe academic restriction (less than or equal to1 hour of study time; p=0.035, OR = 2.31).

Conclusions: A substantial portion of early-career doctors operate under severe psychological strain. Burnout during the internship is driven by a toxic triad of chronic REM sleep suppression, maladaptive chemical coping, and the intense friction of trying to balance clinical duties with postgraduate academic preparation.

The CLINICAL EFFECTIVENESS AND SAFETY OF INTRATHECAL MESENCHYMAL STEM CELL THERAPY IN NEURODEGENERATIVE DISEASES

2026-08-28T04:16:57+00:00

Neurodegenerative diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), progressive multiple sclerosis (PMS), and multiple system atrophy (MSA), are progressive disorders characterised by irreversible neuronal loss and limited treatment options. Intrathecal mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy has emerged as a potential neuroprotective and immunomodulatory approach, but its clinical efficacy and safety remain uncertain. This narrative review, conducted in accordance with the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, synthesised clinical evidence published between 2019 and 2026, identified through systematic searches of PubMed and Google Scholar, with a focus on the clinical efficacy and safety of intrathecal MSC therapy across ALS, PMS, and MSA. Of 1,461 records identified, nine studies met the inclusion criteria and were appraised using the JBI Critical Appraisal tools. Across study designs and disease contexts, intrathecal MSC therapy demonstrated a consistently favourable safety profile, with adverse events generally mild and transient. Several studies suggested potential clinical benefits, including slower disease progression, improved neurodegeneration-related biomarkers, and stabilisation of neurological function, although clinical benefits across primary outcomes remained inconsistent and appeared more pronounced in progressive MS than in ALS or MSA. Substantial heterogeneity in MSC sources, dosing protocols, and outcome measures limited direct comparison across studies. Overall, intrathecal MSC therapy appears promising and generally well tolerated, but evidence of clinical efficacy remains inconclusive. This review provides research-relevant insights for clinicians and investigators on priority areas, including standardisation of MSC products, patient stratification, and multicentre trials with long-term follow-up, needed to establish the therapeutic benefit of intrathecal MSC therapy in neurodegenerative diseases.