EFFECTS OF EXAM STRESS AMONG MEDICAL STUDENTS ON BLOOD PRESSURE & PULSE RATE.A STUDY AT PEOPLES UNIVERSITY OF HEALTH AND SCIENCES FOR WOMEN, SHAHEED BENAZIR ABAD.

Abstract

Objective: To determine and compare the effects of Examination stress among medical students on blood pressure & pulse rate at PUMHSW-Shaheed Benazir Abad. Design of study: This was comparative cross- sectional study. Place & Duration: The research was carried out at the Department of Physiology, Peoples University of Medical & Health Sciences for Women, Shaheed Benazir Abad, From April 7th, 2019 to October 6th, 2019. Materials and Method: A total of 110 students of first & Second year MBBS were included for this study having no any illness, by the non-probability randomized sampling technique. All students were divided into two equal (55-students in each) groups A and B first & second year MBBS respectively, blood pressure was measured by mercury sphygmomanometer and pulse was counted by palpatory method for one minute as standard during pre-exam and post exam period. Results: This study showed that systolic Blood Pressure ± SD before examination of student’s of first year was mean111.72±9.19 mmHg and 116.0 ±10.81mmHg during exam which was higher with p value of 0.001. whereas in the second year students the mean Systolic Blood Pressure ± SD during examination of students was 122.27±44.78 mmHg which was higher as compared to before examination mean Systolic Blood Pressure ±SD was 106.23±15.47 mmHg (p=<0.05).The mean Diastolic Blood Pressure ± SD during examination of students of first year was 76.4545±8.53 mmHg which was higher as compared to before examination mean Diastolic Blood Pressure ±SD was 73.3636±8.05 mmHg (n = 55, p value = 0.0001). Whereas mean diastolic BP of seconds years students was 71.7091±7.83 mmHg before exam and higher values noted during exam mean was 75.6727±14.51mmHg (p=0.001).Mean Pulse rate ± SD during examination of all students including first year was 82.09±12.58 mmHg before exam Pulse rate ±SD was 80.16±10.00 mmHg.(n = 55, p value = 0.0001). In the second year students this rate was 72.12±6.90 mmHg before and 75.30±8.96 mmHg during examination, p value=0-045. Conclusion: Majority of students were in examination stress, and this stress significantly affected junior female first year students in comparison of second year students and raised their pulse rate, Systolic & Diastolic blood pressure.