Basic details of demographic variables (n = 440).

IntroductionThroughout their academic careers, medical and dental students face challenges that cause varying levels of stress, affecting their academic performance and quality of life (QoL). Our study aims to ascertain the effect of academic stress and the educational environment on the QoL and academic performance of medical and dental students, encompassing the perspectives of both students and healthcare professionals.MethodsA mixed-method research was conducted from February to May 2022, comprising students from a medical and dental college in Pakistan. During Phase 1, the students participated in the cross-sectional survey and completed the WHO Quality of Life Scale (WHOQOL-BREF), Academic Stress Scale, and Dundee Ready Educational Environment Measure (DREEM) Inventory questionnaires. Academic performance was evaluated through last year’s annual assessment results of the students. During Phase 2 of the study, interviews with healthcare professionals who had experience as the students’ counsellors were conducted.ResultsThe mean age of the sample (n = 440) was 22.24 ±1.4 years. The Cronbach Alpha reliability of the DREEM inventory was 0.877, that of the Academic Stress Scale was 0.939 and the WHOQOL scale was 0.895. More than half of the students (n = 230, 52.3%) reported better QoL and the majority perceived a positive educational environment (n = 323, 73.4%) and higher academic stress (n = 225, 51.1%). Males had significantly more academic stress (pConclusionMedical and dental students encounter a myriad of challenges, along with significant academic stress, which detrimentally affects their academic performance, despite perceiving a positive educational environment. Conversely, a better QoL is associated with improved academic performance.