[[alternative]]The Effects of the Bach Flower Remedies on Students' oral Examination Stress

[[abstract]] 背景與目的：考試壓力是學生壓力的主要來源之一，研究顯示考試壓力與成績負相關，影響學生自信心與成就。不同形式的考試，壓力也不同，上台報告的口試，需公開演示，類似選手上場競賽，壓力大於筆試。由於考試壓力屬狀態性情緒，少有學生因此尋求醫師診治，多半自我調適。臨床研究顯示花精是調和心靈情緒的輔助療法，安全且簡便，包括台灣，許多國家民眾均可自行購買自助使用。然而花精相關研究並不充分，本研究擬探討巴赫花精減緩學生口試壓力的可行性。 材料與方法：本研究招募 60 位自覺有口試壓力的大學生與研究生，隨機分配成三組，花精組與安慰劑組為單盲設計，加上空白組對照，每組 20 人。花精組使用加入榆樹與落葉松花精的乳霜，安慰劑組使用無花精的乳霜，二組受試者在進行口試前 24 小時期間將實驗乳霜塗抹於皮膚上 4 次，空白組無介入。三組參與者均以視覺類比量表、競賽狀態性焦慮量表-2R、新版一般自我效能量表進行評估，所得資料以 SPSS 18.0 統計軟體進行比對分析。 結果：花精組在口試前、後檢測的緊張程度顯著降低 (P < .007)，安慰劑與空白組無顯著差異；在口試後檢測的狀態焦慮 (自信心、身體焦慮、認知焦慮)，顯著低於其他兩組 (P < .001)；口試後自我效能的評估結果，花精組與其他兩組無顯著差異。 結論:本研究使用榆樹與落葉松花精乳霜塗抹於皮膚上，對於減緩學生口試壓力有所助益，是簡便安全的自助減壓法。[[abstract]] Background and Purpose： Examination stress is one of the main sources of stress for students. Research shows that examination stress is negatively related to their academic performance and affects students' self-confidence and achievement. Different forms of examinations contribute to different stress levels. For instance, oral examinations, which require public presentations, are more stressful than written examinations because they are similar to an athletic competition. Since examination stress is a state emotion, few students seek medical treatment for it. Instead, most of them tend to be self-adjusted. Clinical studies have shown that flower essences are safe and easy to use as complementary therapy for mental and emotional adjustment. People in many countries, including Taiwan, can purchase and use them on their own. But the related research on flower essence is not sufficient. This study intends to explore the feasibility of Bach flower remedies (BFR) relieve the pressure of students' oral examinations. Materials and Methods： In this study, 60 university and graduate students who felt stressed by the oral examination were randomly assigned into three groups: a single-blind design with a BFR group and a placebo group, plus a blank group control. Each group consists of 20 participants. Those in the BFR group use a cream with elm and larch flower essences whereas people in the placebo group use a cream without flower essences.The subjects in both groups mentioned above applied the experimental cream to the skin 4 times during the 24 hours before the oral exam, and the blank group applied nothing. All three groups were evaluated with the Visual Analog Scale, the Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2R, and the New General Self-Efficacy Scale. Results: The degree of nervousness survey before and after the oral examination was significantly lower (P < .007) in the BFR group, and the state of anxiety (self-confidence, physical anxiety, cognitive anxiety) detected after the oral examination was significantly lower than that of the other two groups (P < .001). There was no significant difference between the BFR group and the other two groups in self-efficacy after the oral examination. Conclusion: The Bach flower remedies of elm and larch in this study helped to reduce students’ stress of oral examination