Effect of auricular acupuncture on exam anxiety in first-year medical students

  • Duc-Thang Pham
  • Van-Dan Nguyen
  • Minh-Man Pham Bui
  • Dieu-Thuong Thi Trinh
  • Thao Nguyen Thi Thu
  • Loc Le Quang
  • Hoai-Nam Thai

Tóm tắt

Background and Objectives: Exam anxiety is a commonly seen problem among medical students. Auricular acupuncture has been shown to have an anxiety-reducing effect, however, data on exam anxiety is limited. Research in dental and preoperative anxiety has indicated that anxiety level could be reduced by using ear acupoints on the non-dominant side. Therefore, this study aims to determine whether needling at acupoints on the non-dominant side can reduce exam anxiety in medical students.

Method: This is a prospective observational study on 32 students at The Faculty of Traditional Medicine, Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy. Eligible students received auricular acupuncture on the non-dominant side at the Master cerebral, Tranquilizer and Relaxation points. Levels of anxiety were measured using a visual analogue scale before and after the intervention as well as before the exam. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, heart rate, exam performance and adverse events occurring during the study were also collected.

Results: Exam anxiety level and heart rate decreased 30 minutes after auricular acupuncture (p smaller 0.05). Before the exam, exam anxiety level and heart rate increased significantly compared to after the intervention but still lower than baseline (p smaller 0.05). The exam anxiety level with heart rate at each time point did not differ significantly in gender and trait anxiety levels (p more than 0.05). No adverse events from auricular acupuncture were observed.

Conclusion: Auricular acupuncture at the Master cerebral, Tranquillizer and Relaxation points on the non-dominant side is effective in reducing exam anxiety in medical students.

Full text link

điểm /   đánh giá
Phát hành ngày
2020-02-06
Chuyên mục
Bài viết