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

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 & Health Sciences for Women, Shaheed Benazir Abad. Period: April to October 2019. Material & 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 = <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 = <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.