Stress recognition in dental students using smartphone sensor and a software: A pilot study

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: A dental student in his/her life goes through several academic stresses. Mild stress may be beneficial in cognitive tasks and performance, while persistently high stress may lead to anxiety and depression. Thus, the aim is to compare the stress levels in students appearing for previva and postviva during university examinations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was carried out on 70 3(rd) year Bachelor of Dental Surgery students who were appearing for their university practical examination. Heart rate, oxygen saturation and stress levels were measured using Android S-HEALTH software. The data were compared and tabulated. Results obtained were statistically analyzed using paired “t”-test. RESULTS: Heart rate, oxygen saturation and stress levels were statistically high in previva of all the students. CONCLUSION: It can be concluded that examination is a situational stress resulting in anxiety due to increased levels of plasma cortisol reflected by an increased heart rate, oxygen saturation and stress levels. It is important for students to use stress-reducing measures or to reduce them as much as possible to avoid factors that can affect themselves and their patients in stressful way.