Association between Oxygen Saturation level, Cognitive Function, and the Academic Performance of Medical Students, Jouf University

Abstract

Background and Aim: Many factors have an impact on academic performance, cognitive function one of the most important factor which affect the academic performance, cognitive means conscious mental activity as thinking, remembering, learning or using language. The objective of the study was to assess association between the oxygen saturation level, cognitive function and academic performance of medical students. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study conducted between October 2016 to April 2017. Simple random sampling of 88 medical students were included in the study. A self-administrated questionnaire including factors affect the oxygen saturation levels, measurement of the oxygen saturation by pulse oximeter, and digital span test which include forward and backward test. The data from this research were analyzed using mean descriptive and inferential statistical tests, standard deviation, and t-test and ANOVA with a significance level of p < 0.05. Results: Results showed that academic performance of the students had the highest correlation with the cognitive functions (p <.05). Mean± SD of cognitive function test in male and female was (14.46±3.14, 16.75±3.22 respectively), there is statistically significance difference between male and female students (p≤.002). Conclusions: Results of the study concluded that the O2 saturation level are within normal range for sample population. There is a difference between male and female students in cognitive function scores; better for female students. O2 saturation level and cognitive function have a good impact on the academic performance. Also, there is no association between the cognitive function scores and the academic performance.

Keywords Medical students · Cognitive function · O2 saturation · Academic performance · Jouf