Pre-examination stress among pre-clinical medical students: A Nigerian survey

Abstract

Introduction: The demands of medical education predispose to high stress levels, compromising students' well-being and performance. This study investigated the sources, severity, and effects of preexamination stress and the coping mechanisms adopted by medical students in a Nigerian University.

Materials and Methods: This e-survey conducted in Delta State, Nigeria adopted a descriptive crosssectional design. A questionnaire developed by Google Forms was disseminated using WhatsApp to 200 and 300 level medical students in the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences after ethical authorization. It encompassed questions concerning the causes and effects of pre-exam stress, and the coping mechanisms. S-Anxiety subscale of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) was included to assess the prevalence and severity of stress. Fully completed questionnaires were received from 167 respondents, aged 16-30 years. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (Version 27.0) compared the frequencies using the Chi-Square test and analysed the differences in STAI scores using the independent t-test and the analysis of variance. Significance was set at p < 5%.

Results: Mean anxiety scores were higher in females, 200 level students and those residing in personal rooms. High anxiety levels were more prevalent in females (46, 49.5%) than males (28, 37.8%) (p<0.05). Prayer and physical exercises were the predominant coping strategies in females and males respectively.

Conclusion: Medical education can adversely affect students' mental health. To mitigate this, universities should design curricula that address students' challenges and provide mental health resources for students.