EFFECT OF EXAMINATION STRESS ON THE PLASMA CORTISOL LEVEL

Abstract

Background: Medical profession has been always a noble and prestigious path but the endeavour behind it has been truly known by the persons who undergone the training of becoming a doctor. Medical students face many stresses in their academic life. This study is carried out to provide data and re-establish the effect of academic examination stress on the plasma cortisol levels.

Methods: A longitudinal follow up study was carried out on the first MBBS medical students who were appearing for their first credit examination by measuring their plasma cortisol levels in pre-examination and post-examination stage in fasting condition. Serum Cortisol was estimated by using Byer’s Advia Centuse advanced Chemiluminescence’s technique with inbuilt calibrators and controls; the results obtained were statistically analysed using paired ‘t’ test.

Results: On statistically analysing the results of our study we found that medical students in stage – I had significantly higher values of plasma cortisol than when they were in stage – II.

Conclusion: The results cover a significant correlation of examination stress factors to changes in plasma cortisol values. It is important for medical students to use stress reducing measures, or reduce them as much as possible in order to avoid factors that can affect themselves and their patients in stressful way.