Investigating Exam Anxiety Levels of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Students

• Main Authors: Şule ŞİMŞEK, Nesrin YAĞCI, Mücahit ÖZTOP, Serbay ŞEKERÖZ
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bülent Ecevit University 2020-04-01
• Series: Yükseköğretim ve Bilim Dergisi
• Subjects: anxiety; education; physical therapy
• Online Access: http://higheredu-sci.beun.edu.tr/pdf/pdf_HIG_1936.pdf
• ISSN: 2146-5959; 2146-5967

The aim of this study is to determine the exam anxiety level of the students at Pamukkale University School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation. The sample of the descriptive study was 615 students attending Pamukkale University School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation. The data were collected by demographic information form and Revised Test Anxiety Scale. Total score and four subheadings (Anxiety, tension, irrelevant thought, physical response) were examined. Of 615 student in the study 318 (51.7%) were female, 297 (48.3%) were male and mean age was 21.93±1.66 (min-max: 18-32) years. The 303 students were assessed before the theoretical exam and 312 students were assessed before the practical exam. The 244 (39.6%) of the participants were 2nd grade, 205 (33.3%) were 3rd grade and 166 (26.9%) were 4th grade. Significant differences were found except for the irrelevant thought subheading (p<0.05), the 3rd grade students had higher anxiety scores (p= 0.002). The exam anxiety was experienced more during the practical exam (p= 0.001). Anxiety, tension and physical response were also found to be higher before the practical exam (p = 0.001). Exam anxiety of the students of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation students increases at the 3rd class and during practical exams. For this reason, we think that the reasons for the high test anxiety that students have experienced in certain classes and exam types should be investigated and studies should be done to reduce this anxiety.