Examination stress: Effects on Quantitative Platelet count in medical students at Peoples University of medical and health sciences for women, Nawabshah.

Article Information

Title: Examination stress: Effects on Quantitative Platelet count in medical students at Peoples University of medical and health sciences for women, Nawabshah.

Authors: Reh Naz Shaikh, Saba Leeza, Masood Nabi Noor, Nida, Muhammad Muqeem Mangi, Masood Ahmed Unar

Journal: The Professional Medical Journal (TPMJ)

HEC Recognition History

Category	From	To
Y	2024-10-01	2025-12-31
Y	2023-07-01	2024-09-30
Y	2022-07-01	2023-06-30
Y	2021-07-01	2022-06-30

Publisher: Independent Medical College, Faisalabad- Pakistan

Country: Pakistan

Year: 2023

Volume: 30

Issue: 10

Language: English

DOI: 10.29309/TPMJ/2023.30.10.7693

Keywords: Medical StudentsPlatelet CountExamination Stress

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the examination stress on Quantitative Platelet count in medical students at Peoples University of medical and health sciences for women, Nawabshah. Study Design: Cross-sectional Comparative study. Setting: Department of Physiology, Peoples University of Medical &amp; Health Sciences for Women, Shaheed Benazir Abad. Period: April to October 2019. Material &amp; Method: A randomized selection of female students from Peoples University of medical and health sciences for women, Nawabshah was done. Blood samples were taken before and during the exams after a preliminary medical checkup, students with fever or with other infections at the start of the study were not allowed to participate. Finally 110 students were included and two groups were made each consists of 55 students each from first year and second year MBBS class. Estimation of platelets count was carried out thru complete blood count test. Results: Laboratory results of platelet count showed, mean Platelet Count ± SD before examination of all students including first year was 295961.81±68964.71%. become 311000.0±83017.84% during exam, which was higher as compared to before examination mean Platelet Count ±SD was There was highly significant increase of Platelet Count during examination as compared to before examination among the students of first year (n = 55, p value = &lt;0.0001), whereas In this study, mean Platelet Count ± SD before examination of all students including second year was 297790.0± 72794.78%. increased during exam to 326641.81± 80963.01% which was higher as compared to before examination mean Platelet Count ±SD was There was highly significant increase of Platelet Count during examination as compared to before examination among the students of second year (n = 55, p value = &lt;0.0001). Conclusion: This study concluded that examinations in medical schools are stressful enough to produce changes in blood cells parameters which include Platelet count and increased the levels.

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Research Objective

To evaluate the examination stress on Quantitative Platelet count in medical students at Peoples University of medical and health sciences for women, Nawabshah.

Methodology

Cross-sectional comparative study conducted at the Department of Physiology, Peoples University of Medical & Health Sciences for Women, Shaheed Benazir Abad, from April to October 2019. 110 female medical students (first and second year MBBS) were randomly selected. Blood samples were taken before and during exams after a preliminary medical checkup. Students with fever or infections were excluded. Platelet count was estimated using a complete blood count test. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 23 and Student's t-test.

Methodology Flowchart

                        graph TD;
    A["Ethical Approval & Participant Selection"] --> B["Blood Sample Collection - Pre-Exam"];
    B --> C["Blood Sample Collection - During Exam"];
    C --> D["Complete Blood Count for Platelet Count"];
    D --> E["Data Analysis using SPSS v23"];
    E --> F["Student's t-test for Significance"];
    F --> G["Report Findings & Conclusion"];

Discussion

Stress, a common psychobiological process, can lead to various physiological responses, including changes in hematological parameters. Examination stress in medical students is significant and can affect blood cell parameters like platelet count. The increase in platelet count during exams may be due to stress-induced cytokine secretion promoting hemopoietic cell proliferation and hemoconcentration.

Key Findings

Mean platelet count increased significantly during examinations compared to before examinations in both first-year (295961.81±68964.71% to 311000.0±83017.84%, p < 0.0001) and second-year (297790.0±72794.78% to 326641.81±80963.01%, p < 0.0001) MBBS students.

Conclusion

Examinations in medical schools are stressful enough to produce significant changes in blood cell parameters, specifically increasing platelet counts in medical students. Further research is needed to fully understand the causes of these effects.

Fact Check

1. Study Period: The study was conducted from April to October 2019. (Confirmed in the text).
2. Number of Participants: A total of 110 female MBBS students were included in the study, divided into two groups of 55 each. (Confirmed in the text).
3. Statistical Significance: The increase in platelet count during examinations was found to be highly significant for both first and second-year students with a p-value of <0.0001. (Confirmed in the text and Table-I).

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