Exam-Related Concern Among Medical Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly affected students’ education worldwide. Distance learning was introduced as a solution to continue education during the pandemic, but it also raised various student concerns. This study aimed to investigate the level of exam-related concerns and associated factors among students at Zabol University of Medical Sciences. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study included 120 participants selected through random sampling. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire that covered gender, age, marital status, years of education, residency status (native vs. non-native), study hours, access to educational content, and history of COVID-19 infection. Exam-related concerns were assessed using a 10-point scale. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 27, employing descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation, and range), along with chi-square and Pearson correlation tests. A significance level of 0.05 was considered for all tests. Results: The mean score for exam-related concerns among students was 7.01, with a standard deviation of 3.08. Among the variables, only the method of accessing educational content showed a significant correlation with exam-related concerns (P<0.05). Conclusion: Students reported high levels of exam-related concerns during the pandemic. Providing educational content in formats that meet students’ economic and technical needs could help alleviate these concerns.