Medical Students - Self-Assessed Confidence Level Before a Major Physiology Examination: Affective Factors in a Nigerian Medical School

Abstract

Self-reported confidence before any examination in all levels of medical training is a product of previous experience, attitudinal inclinations overtime, degree of self subjection to tenets of professionalism and possibly, the inadvertent role of the medical school environment including colleagues, teachers and faculty members, comfort, satisfaction and psychosocial stability; which may be addressed as sub-factors that determine the level of preparedness. Let medical schools in Nigeria; adopt a continuous and regular assessment of students’ self confidence before any minor or major examination, to monitor and ensure a certain psychological and academic level of preparedness among the students. This will avoid some cases of attrition resulting from self-doubt and lack of preparedness.