Is online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic associated with increased burnout in medical learners?: A medical school’s experience

Abstract

Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated a shift to virtual curriculum delivery at Canadian medical schools. At the NOSM University, some learners transitioned to entirely online learning, while others continued in-person, in-clinic learning. This study aimed to show that medical learners who transitioned to exclusively online learning exhibited higher levels of burnout compared to their peers who continued in-person, clinical learning. Analysis of factors that protect against burnout including resilience, mindfulness, and self-compassion exhibited by online and in-person learners at NOSM University during this curriculum shift were also explored. Methods As part of a pilot wellness initiative, a cross-sectional online survey-based study of learner wellness was conducted at NOSM University during the 2020–2021 academic year. Seventy-four learners responded. The survey utilized the Maslach Burnout Inventory, the Brief Resilience Scale, Cognitive and Affective Mindfulness Scale–Revised, and the Self-Compassion Scale–Short Form. T-tests were utilized to compare these parameters in those who studied exclusively online and those who continued learning in-person in a clinical setting. Results Medical learners who engaged in online learning exhibited significantly higher levels of burnout when compared with learners who continued in-person learning in a clinical setting, despite scoring equally on protective factors such as resilience, mindfulness, and self-compassion. Conclusion The results discussed in this paper suggest that the increased time spent in a virtual learning environment during the COVID-19 pandemic might be associated with burnout among exclusively online learners, as compared to learners who were educated in clinical, in-person settings. Further inquiry should investigate causality and any protective factors that could mitigate negative effects of the virtual learning environment.

Effectiveness of University-Provided Individual Counselling for Healthcare Students: A Systematic Review

“…Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a detrimental impact on the mental health of students, emphasizing the urgent necessity for tailored support systems to confront these mental health challenges. Particularly within the medical field, newcomers may experience heightened fear and apprehension due to the pandemic (Perissotto et al, 2021), and the reduction in communication and human interaction has left its mark on students' mental well-being (Hunt et al, 2023;Roman et al, 2023). The adoption of remote learning during the pandemic has been associated with increased levels of burnout, anxiety, depression, and stress, all of which have hindered students' overall quality of life and academic performance (Hunt et al, 2023;Kecojevic et al, 2020;Zhang et al, 2020).This issue should represent a priority for universities and the entire community.…”