title: Evaluation of Examination Stress and Its Effect on Cognitive Function among First Year Medical Students.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Medical students experience stress at every phase of curriculum more so before examination. This stress may affect physiological, psychological and cognitive functions of the students.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The present study aimed to evaluate stress status among first year MBBS students by recording pulse rate (PR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and using stress questionnaire; its effect on cognitive function by recording auditory reaction time (ART) and visual reaction time (VRT).
  
  
  METHODS
  It is a cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 100 (49 males and 51 females) first year healthy MBBS students participated. Stress questionnaire was given and assessed. Cardiovascular parameters were also assessed. The ART and VRT were recorded before (pre examination setting) and after 3 month of examination (post-examination setting).
  
  
  METHODS
  The data were analysed by using SPSS 21.0 version.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All parameters namely PR, SBP, DBP, ART, VRT and stress scores were increased in preexamination setting irrespective of gender. Increased PR was observed in female learners where as stress score and SBP were increased in males in pre-examination setting. ART and VRT were more in females as compared to males in both setting.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is concluded that examination in the form of stressor hampers cognitive function of first year medical students. The cognitive functions of the female learners were more affected as compared to males. Therefore, proper counselling of the students should be initiated at the earliest to decrease their stress level.
authors.affiliation: Demonstrator, Department of Physiology, AIIMS , Bhubaneswar, India .
authors.forename: Ganesh
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pradhan
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Physiology, RRMCH , Bangalore, India .
authors.forename: Nishitha Linet
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Mendinca
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Department of Physiology, AIIMS , Bhubaneswar, India .
authors.forename: Manisha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kar
keywords: Auditory reaction time; Cardiovascular parameters; Cognitive function; Stress; Visual reaction time