Medical students’ perceptions of learning and working on the COVID-19 frontlines: ‘… a confirmation that I am in the right place professionally’

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic caused complex and enduring challenges for healthcare providers and medical educators. The rapid changes to the medical education landscape forced universities across the world to pause traditional medical training. In Basel, Switzerland, however, medical students had the opportunity to work on the COVID-19 frontlines. Our purpose was to understand how they perceived both learning and professional identity development in this novel context. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 21 medical students who worked in a COVID-19 testing facility at the University Hospital of Basel. Using constructivist grounded theory methodology, we collected and analyzed data iteratively using the constant comparative approach to develop codes and theoretical themes. Most participants perceived working on the pandemic frontlines as a positive learning experience, that was useful for improving their technical and communication skills. Participants particularly valued the comradery amongst all team members, perceiving that the hierarchy between faculty and students was less evident in comparison to their usual learning environments. Since medical students reported that their work on the pandemic frontlines positively affected their learning, the need to create more hands-on learning opportunities for medical students challenges curriculum developers. Medical students wish to feel like full-fledged care team members rather than observing sideliners. Performing simple clinical tasks and collaborative moments in a supportive learning environment may promote learning and professional development and should be encouraged in the post-pandemic era.

Chronic stress and turnover intention of resident physicians after experiencing COVID-19

“…As described in the introduction, resident physicians have the dual status of formal doctors and medical students, and the difficulties they face are more complex and difficult to overcome [ 21 ]. First of all, during the public health crisis, resident physicians still need to assume a lot of responsibilities in medical clinical work, which will undoubtedly increase their risk of exposure to viruses [ 22 , 53 ]. Secondly, the resident plan was severely impacted, and the planned schedule that should have taken effect was seriously affected [ 54 ]; In addition, the significant reduction in the number of patients in the inpatient service limits the education of trainees, and the disease pathological diversity exposed to trainees is significantly reduced [ 55 ]; Finally, the transformation of education mode is also a challenge.…”

Should Medical Students Be Overprotected? A Survey from China and Review About the Roles of Medical Student Under the COVID-19

“…There were other reports also showed that participants considered working on the front lines of the pandemic to be a positive learning experience, which helped improve their technical and communication skills, positively impacting their learning. 16 , 17 …”

Medical students on the COVID-19 frontline: a qualitative investigation of experiences of relief, stress, and mental health

“…Since a recent study by Luong et al suggested that educational adaptations and innovations implemented during the pandemic were perceived by some trainees as beneficial for fostering wellbeing (23), our purpose was to explore this finding with a unique cohort of learners. We've previously reported that medical students who volunteered at the TTC perceived the experience as meaningful in fostering their professional development and professional identity formation (16). Here, we delve into the experiences that impacted medical students' personal health and wellbeing during the pandemic.…”

“…These initiatives aimed to bolster healthcare capacities and address the surge in demands brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic (14,15). For instance, to mitigate the burden experienced by the local healthcare system, the University Hospital of Basel created an off-site Triage and Test Centre (TTC) which was located in the Preachers' Church and staffed by an interprofessional team of nurses, physicians, and military service members to screen and evaluate patients with COVID-19-like symptoms (16,17). Given their availability and eagerness to support the frontline care (18), medical students were recruited to work at the TTC voluntarily.…”

“…To formalize their roles, each student received an official employment contract and comprehensive insurance coverage, ensuring that they were compensated for their valuable contributions. More details regarding this initiative can be found elsewhere (16). It's important to note that the extent and nature of student involvement may have varied widely, depending on the specific circumstances and healthcare systems in different regions and at different times during the pandemic.…”