Evaluation of examination anxiety status and its associated factors among first professional medical (MBBS) students

Abstract

Medical education is highly stressful as compared to other professional courses. Examination related anxiety is the most suffered problem in medical students. The present study was planned to assess the exam related anxiety status, analyze factors causing exam anxiety and its correlation between males and females in 1st year M.B.B.S. students. A study using structured self administered questionnaire was carried out on 150 M.B.B.S. 1st Prof students. Survey questionnaire consisted of VAS (Visual analogue scale) to assess anxiety status and a questionnaire comprising of questions related to various factors contributing to examination anxiety.Students were subjected to VAS to assess baseline anxiety 2 months prior to examination and again readministered 1 week prior to 1st semester summative exam to assess exam anxiety along with questionnaire related to factors causing exam anxiety.Results of our study showed that the mean anxiety on VAS scale was 70.89 ±14.55 and 63.91 ±11.73 in females and males respectively prior to examination. Female students were found to be more anxious as compared to male students. The major factors reported by medical students contributing to exam anxiety were excessive course load (91.81%),lack of time to revise before exam (87.27%) and lack of systematic studies (80.90%), Parental expectations(80%) and lack of time for physical activity and extracurricular activities (78.18%). This study necessitates the need to take steps to recommend stress management techniques and bring reforms in learning and evaluation system to lower the stress in medical students.