Prevalence of B-Blockers Misuse for Exam Stress and Anxiety Management among Health Professions Students in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

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Authors

  • Asmaa Abdel Nasser
     Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Education, Suez Canal University, Ismailia − 41111 ,EG
  • Rahaf Hamad
     Pharm D Internship, Ibn Sina National College for Medical Studies, Jeddah ,SA
  • Haneen Mohammed
     Pharm D Internship, Ibn Sina National College for Medical Studies, Jeddah ,SA
  • Butchi Raju Akondi
     Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Ibn Sina National College for Medical Studies, Jeddah ,SA

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18311/jeoh/2020/24971

Keywords:

B-Blockers, Exam Anxiety, Exam Stress, Health Profession Students, Stress Management

Abstract

Background: Excessive stress can affect students' learning performance and well-being. An optimal level of stress could enhance learning and achievement, whereas excessive stress may affect academic achievement and result in mental and physical health problems. This research aims to assess the prevalence of Beta-Blockers misuse especially propranolol and to determine the stress causative factors among health professions students. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study has been conducted at Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Data collected through an online, modified and valid questionnaire through Google documents were sent to all health professions students. The total number of participants is 430. Results: The prevalence of propranolol misuse is 40% (172) among health professions students in Jeddah city and 89% (153) of them were among the age group 20-30 years. The most causative stimulants to use propranolol among the medical students especially was for reducing the educational stress and anxiety (70%) and they reported that they frequently used propranolol before oral/poster presentation (42%) and entering the practical exams (OSCE/OSPE) (26%) and oral exam (19%) in comparison to the theoretical written exam (p-value < 0.01). Conclusion: This study concludes that there is a high rate of propanol misuse among health professions students in Jeddah city especially among male medical students. All users were aware of the potential side effects of propranolol, however; the stress-relieving effect and feeling of propranolol increased its use prior to practical, oral and presentations exams.

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Published

2020-06-24

How to Cite

Nasser, A. A., Hamad, R., Mohammed, H., & Akondi, B. R. (2020). Prevalence of B-Blockers Misuse for Exam Stress and Anxiety Management among Health Professions Students in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Journal of Ecophysiology and Occupational Health, 20(1&amp;2), 62–69. https://doi.org/10.18311/jeoh/2020/24971

Issue

Volume 20, Issue 1&2, June 2020

Section

Articles
Crossref
Scopus
Google Scholar
Europe PMC
Received 2020-03-05
Accepted 2020-03-18
Published 2020-06-24

 

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