Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Medical Students: A Multicenter Quantitative Study

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the United States (US) medical education system with the necessary, yet unprecedented Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) national recommendation to pause all student clinical rotations with in-person patient care. This study is a quantitative analysis investigating the educational and psychological effects of the pandemic on US medical students and their reactions to the AAMC recommendation in order to inform medical education policy.Methods: The authors sent a cross-sectional survey via email to medical students in their clinical training years at six medical schools during the initial peak phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. Survey questions aimed to evaluate students' perceptions of COVID-19's impact on medical education; ethical obligations during a pandemic; infection risk; anxiety and burnout; willingness and needed preparations to return to clinical rotations. Results: 741 (29.5%) students responded. Nearly all students (93.7%) were not involved in clinical rotations with in-person patient contact at the time the study was conducted. Reactions to being removed were mixed, with 75.8% feeling this was appropriate, 34.7% guilty, 33.5% disappointed, and 27.0% relieved.Most students (74.7%) agreed the pandemic had significantly disrupted their medical education, and believed they should continue with normal clinical rotations during this pandemic (61.3%). When asked if they would accept the risk of infection with COVID-19 if they returned to the clinical setting, 83.4% agreed. Students reported the pandemic had moderate effects on their stress and anxiety levels with 84.1% of respondents feeling at least somewhat anxious. Adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) (53.5%) was the most important factor to feel safe returning to clinical rotations, followed by adequate testing for infection (19.3%) and antibody testing (16.2%). Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the education of US medical students in their clinical training years. The majority of students wanted to return to clinical rotations and were willing to accept the risk of COVID-19 infection. Students were most concerned with having enough PPE if allowed to return to clinical activities.

An evaluation of mental health and emotion regulation experienced by undergraduate nursing students in China during the COVID‐19 pandemic: A cross‐sectional study

“…On the other hand, most students reported that the pandemic affected their normal medical educations and daily lives. These sudden shocks may cause an increased risk of mental health symptoms (Harries et al., 2021). Due to the nursing profession's specificity, most of the students in our school of nursing were female, so only 13.2% of the respondents included in this study were male.…”

COVID-19 mental health consequences on medical students worldwide

“…A survey of 741 medical students across the USA evaluated students' anxiety with a 7-point Likert scale. There was a statistically significant increase in self-reported emotional exhaustion and burnout from before the pandemic and since the pandemic started (p < 0.001) [7]. Additionally, medical students from Idaho expressed 'a lot' or 'extreme' concern regarding the toll COVID-19 will take on public health (64%), the economy (61%), the health of loved ones (61%), and not knowing when the pandemic would end (59%) [11].…”

“…On 17 March 2020, the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) recommended all medical schools to pause all student clinical rotations with inperson patient care. A US study surveying a total of 741 medical students found that most students (74.7%) believed that the pandemic had significantly disrupted their medical education and 61.3% believed that they should continue with normal clinical rotations during the pandemic [7]. 83.4% students were willing to accept the risk of infection with COVID-19 if they had to return to the clinical setting [7].…”

COVID-19 Pandemic and Academic Speculation of Medical Students of Bangladesh: A Cross-sectional, Comparative Study

“…And similar views were expressed in a study conducted among medical students. [27] Crowded accomodation facility and lack of cleanliness in hostels of government medical colleges as well as more patient burden in hospital might be the crucial reasons of difference. [28] Conclusion COVID-19 pandemic has imposed enormous challenges on medical education worldwide.…”