ASSESSMENT OF ANXIETY AMONG NURSING STUDENTS AT KOYA TECHNICAL INSTITUTE IN ERBIL

Abstract

Background
 Anxiety is a major obstacle to learning in the clinical setting. While a moderate level of anxiety may be needed for learning, a high level of anxiety results in decreased learning. Emerging data indicate that nursing students are possibly more anxious than other students.
 Objectives
 The aim of this study was to assess the anxiety levels among nursing students the Koya Technical Institute at Erbil polytechnic University.
 Methods
 A quantitative descriptive study was conducted on 194 students selected for the Koya Technical Institute at Erbil polytechnic University in Erbil-Iraq. A non-probability purposive sample was selected. A questionnaire was designed for the purpose of the study, it contained of two parts; Part one consisted of socio-demographic characteristics such as age, gender, marital status, income, religion, nation and residential area of the students and part two consisted of a Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale which used to measure the severity of anxiety. Data were collected through interview with students. Chi-square test and Mann-Whitney U-test were used for data analysis.
 Results
 The mean age (±SD) was 20.25 (± 1.98) years. The majority (59.3 %) of the samples were male, single (92.8%), Kurdish (98.5%), Muslim (99.5%), had fair income (58.2%), and most of them from rural areas (61.9%). The majority of the study sample (77.3%) had normal anxiety, while 22.2% had mild to moderate anxiety level and only 0.5% were severe with anxiety level. In general, there was no significant association between level of anxiety and their socio-demographic characteristics except gender having a significantly higher P = 0.013.
 Conclusion
 Nursing students had mild to moderate anxiety levels, but still need better awareness, advice and management of the affected students. Future research is required to affirm these determinations.