Biomedical Research

Stress can reduce the efficiency of healthy individuals and it has been shown in most of the physiological studies. The present study was carried out to assess stress and its effect on vital parameters during academic examination in final year medical students. The study was car-ried out at Sri Aurobindo Institute of Medical Sciences, Indore. The final MBBS students of academic year 2010-11 were selected for study. The height, weight, pulse rate and blood pressure were taken before and during examination. Zung’s scale was used for assessment of Stress. Out of 71 students 68 participated in the study. There was highly significant dif-ference in vital parameters [Pulse rate (t=8.89, P<0.001), Systolic Blood Pressure (t=3.89, P<0.001) and Diastolic Blood Pressure (t=2.86, P<0.006)] during examination. It was also observed that the stress level was high. SDS Index of stress was more in girls as compared to boys. No significant change was observed in weight. It was observed that academic examina-tions for medical students are stressful and produce changes in vital parameters which may affect their academic performance. Girls had more stress as compared to boys. Academics and examinations are the most powerful stressors in medical students.

Author(s): Balkishan Sharma, Rajshekhar Wavare, Ajit Deshpande, Richa Nigam and Ramkrishna Chandorkar
Abstract | Full-Text | PDF

Share this