Evaluation of physiological effects of examination stress on Quantitative red blood cells count and hemoglobin in female medical students at Peoples University of medical and health sciences for women, Nawabshah.

Abstract

Objective: To assess the physiological effects of examination stress on red blood cells in female medical students at Peoples university of medical and health sciences for women, Nawabshah. Study Design: Comparative Cross Sectional study. Setting: Department of Physiology, Peoples University of Medical & Health Sciences for Women, Shaheed Benazir Abad. Period: 7^th April 2019 to 6^th October 2019. Methods: A total 110 healthy students of first & Second year MBBS were included for this, by the non-probability randomized sampling technique, divided into two equal (55-students in each) groups A and B first & second year MBBS. Blood samples were collected prior to and during the exam, and the findings were evaluated using statistical software. Results: The mean RBC count ± SD thru the examination of students including the first year was 4.98±0.26 c/cm³, which was considerably higher than the pre-exam mean RBC count ±SD of 4.65±0.27 c/cm³. There was a small rise in RBC count throughout the examination compared to before (n = 55, p-value = 0.031) among the first-year students. During the second year examination, students had a mean RBC count ± SD of 4.67±0.28 c/cm³, which was not substantially higher than the pre-exam mean of 4.66±0.33 c/cm³. There was no significant increase in RBC count throughout the examination compared to before it among 2^nd year students (n = 55, p-value = 0.932). Conclusion: Findings of study concluded that examination stress significantly affects first-year medical students' red blood cell (RBC) count, increasing it during exams, but not second-year students. This suggests varying physiological responses to stress, possibly due to academic adaptation or stress levels.