The Effect of a Stress and Anxiety Coping Program on Objective Structured Clinical Examination Performance Among Nursing Students in Shiraz, Iran

Overview

Journal BMC Med Educ

Publisher Biomed Central

Specialty Medical Education

Date 2020 Sep 15

PMID 32928184

Citations 11

Authors

Sadaf Mojarrab

Leila Bazrafkan

Azita Jaberi

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Evaluation of the competence and practical skills of nursing students, using the objective structured clinical examination (OSCE), is an integral part of the nursing education program. However, their performance could be negatively influenced by a significant level of stress and anxiety prior to the test. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of an anxiety coping program on the OSCE performance level of first-year nursing students in Shiraz, Iran.

Methods: The present quasi-experimental study was conducted among 76 nursing students; control group (n = 35) and intervention group (n = 41). To attain the study purpose, the intervention group received a pre-exam anxiety coping program that included relaxation and soothing techniques, diaphragmatic breathing training, and progressive muscle relaxation training accompanied by light instrumental music, while the control group received no intervention before the exam. Data collection instruments included a demographic characteristics form and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) questionnaire. Demographic characteristics of the participants indicated an overall homogeneity within the study population. The STAI questionnaire was filled in before and after the OSCE and the results were compared with those of the control group. The data were analysed using SPSS software (version 22.0). P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results: As a result of the anxiety coping program, a substantial reduction in the anxiety score (by 11.61 units) in the intervention group was observed. There was a significant difference in the pre- and post-exam anxiety scores between the control and intervention groups (P < 0.001). The anxiety coping program improved the examination results of nursing students in the final exam compared to the midterm results (an increase of 0.9487 units, P < 0.001).

Conclusion: The anxiety coping program reduced the anxiety level among nursing students and improved their OSCE results. Our findings can be utilized to better evaluate clinical activities in different medical and paramedical groups. Moreover, educators can implement such coping programs prior to evaluations in order to effectively assess the knowledge, attitude, and performance of the students.

Citing Articles

Nursing students' experiences of professional competence evaluation by Objective Structured Clinical examination method: a qualitative content analysis study.

Alizadeh M, Behshid M, Cheraghi R, Dehghani G BMC Med Educ. 2024; 24(1):1302.

PMID: 39538335 PMC: 11562303. DOI: 10.1186/s12909-024-06292-3.

Impact of familiarity with the format of the exam on performance in the OSCE of undergraduate medical students - an interventional study.

Neuwirt H, Eder I, Gauckler P, Horvath L, Koeck S, Noflatscher M BMC Med Educ. 2024; 24(1):179.

PMID: 38395807 PMC: 10893607. DOI: 10.1186/s12909-024-05091-0.

Development, Validity and Reliability of Objective Structured Clinical Examination in Nursing Students.

Chabrera C, Diago E, Curell L SAGE Open Nurs. 2023; 9:23779608231207217.

PMID: 37822363 PMC: 10563491. DOI: 10.1177/23779608231207217.

Objective structured clinical examination: Do first-year nursing students perceive it to be stressful?.

Adibone Emebigwine D, Linda N, Martin P Curationis. 2023; 46(1):e1-e7.

PMID: 37042531 PMC: 10091052. DOI: 10.4102/curationis.v46i1.2339.

Using objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) for circulating and scrub skills of first-semester operating room technology students: Is it valid and reliable?.

Nasiri M, Yektatalab S, Momennasab M, Vizeshfar F Heliyon. 2023; 9(3):e14395.

PMID: 36967916 PMC: 10031320. DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e14395.

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