Abstract

Objective: To determine the frequency of anxiety in medical students of Rawal Institute of Health Sciences, Islamabad, Pakistan.
Methodology: This cross-sectional study was conducted from 28th Feb to 30th June 2017 using the non-probability convenience method sampling at Rawal Institute of Health Sciences, Islamabad. Total 250 students from of 1st to 5th-year MBBS were included by selecting every 2nd student of each class. A close-ended questionnaire was used by interview method.
Results: Response regarding nervousness before an exam revealed that 38% showed no signs of nervousness, 52% felt nervous, and 10% had always experienced nervousness. Response regarding mind goes blank during an exam showed that 34% never experienced this, 54% experienced it sometimes, whereas 12% always had. Response regarding troubled sleep the night before an exam showed that 37% had never experienced this problem, and 34% had trouble sleeping sometimes whereas 29% had always.
Conclusion: There was a high prevalence of anxiety in medical students.

Key words: Anxiety, frequency, medical students.