PENGARUH MENGUNYAH PERMEN KARET TERHADAP TINGKAT KECEMASAN MENGHADAPI UJIAN

Abstract

Background: Anxiety disorders are common in children and dolescents. Student is the one who often have anxiety, including medical students in the first year of college, especially when facing exams. Chewing gum is one way to reduce anxiety. The writter did the experiment to prove whether there is the effect of chewing gum to anxiety level in first grade medical students when facing the exams. Aim: To determine the effect of chewing gum to anxiety level in first grade medical student when facing exam. Methods: This study was an experimental with quasi experimental pre-post test control group design. The sampling method was using purposive sampling method on 78 students from Faculty of Medicine Diponegoro University year 2014. Subjects were divided into two groups, consist of treatment group and control group. The subjects were given informed consent, filled out the demographic data and filled out the Zung Self-rating Anxiety Scale questionnaire. The treatment group chewed gum two times per day for 1 month. Statistical analysis was calculated using Marginal Homogeneity test. Results: The result of the analysis showed there was a decrease on anxiety levels after chewing gum in treatment group with the value of p=0,034. In the control group there was a significant increase on anxiety levels (p = 0.002). Independent test between groups after 1 month showed a significant difference with the value of p=0,003. Conclusion: There was significant effect between chewing gum and the anxiety level. The anxiety level decreased after chewing gum. Key words: anxiety, chewing gum, first grade medical student