Abstract

EFFECT OF ANXIETY/STRESS ON PHYSIOLOGICAL PARAMETERS OF UNDERGRAD MEDICAL STUDENTS PRIOR TO AND AT START OF PROFESSIONAL EXAMS

Dr. Ommia Kalsoom, Dr. Akbar Nawaz Khan, Dr. Muhammad Naqib, Dr. Tahir Ahmad Munir, Dr. Syed Asif Jahanzeb Kazmi* and Athar Ahmad Jan

ABSTRACT

Background: Exams, part of academic curriculum, are highly stressful and tiresome for all students at every educational level. Pathological effects of stress can change the thinking ability, behavior and thoughts of the students during exams. Stress can results in restlessness, lack of motivation, irritability, depression and feelings of overwhelmed. Aim of this study is to see the effect of anxiety/stress on cardiovascular system, respiratory system and hemopoietic cells 3 months before and during exams on medical students along with its sex predominance. Methodology: The pulse, systemic arterial pressure of 200 undergraduate medical students was measured according to standardization of American Heart Association along with respiratory arte 3 months before and at start of exams. Blood samples were also taken during these time periods. To assess the Anxiety prevalence a structured questionnaire performa of Hamilton Anxiety Scale was filled by the students prior to and during exams with a cut off score for various anxiety levels. Results: The heart rate, systolic and diastolic arterial pressure, respiratory rate and total red cell, white cell and platelets count checked at start of exam days showed statistically significant difference (p<0.05) than at 3 months before the exams. The female students showed significant (p<0.05) anxiety levels, cardiovascular and hemopoietic cell difference compared to male students. Conclusion: The stress during exam had strong association with anxiety and effects the arterial blood pressure, respiration and hemopoietic cell count showing a need to provide students a psychosocial and pedagogical support during exams.

Keywords: Exam stress, Medical students, Hamilton Anxiety Scale.