Test anxiety and academic performance in chiropractic students

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Psychology
• Chiropractic Studies

Background:

• Test anxiety is a common concern among students.
• Understanding its impact on academic performance is crucial for educational interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess test anxiety levels in chiropractic students.
• To examine the relationship between test anxiety and academic performance in written exams and Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs).

Main Methods:

• 166 third-quarter chiropractic students participated.
• The Test Anxiety Inventory (TAI) was used to measure anxiety.
• Written examination scores and OSCE scores were collected as performance metrics.

Main Results:

• 85% of students reported moderate-to-high test anxiety.
• A significant negative correlation was found between TAI scores and written exam performance, though modest.
• Worry and emotionality subscales of the TAI were stronger predictors of written exam scores than the total TAI score.
• No significant correlation was found between TAI scores and OSCE performance.
• Female students reported higher mean scores for total anxiety and emotionality compared to males.

Conclusions:

• While test anxiety is prevalent, its overall score is a weak predictor of written exam success.
• Specific components of test anxiety, namely worry and emotionality, offer better predictive value for written exams.
• Test anxiety does not appear to significantly impact practical clinical skills assessment as measured by OSCEs.