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Lin YK, Saragih ID, Lin CJ, Liu HL, Chen CW, Yeh YS. Global prevalence of anxiety and depression among medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Psychol 2024; 12:338. [PMID: 38858700 PMCID: PMC11163725 DOI: 10.1186/s40359-024-01838-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE As future physicians, medical students have experienced tremendous pressure during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which is associated with a high risk of depression and anxiety. We aimed to investigate an overview of the prevalence of anxiety and depression among medical students in various countries during the global COVID-19 pandemic, and discuss associated stressors. METHODS We systematically searched CINAHL, EMBASE, MEDLINE, PubMed, and Web of Science for relevant articles from December 1, 2019 to March 15, 2023. We performed meta-analysis using a random-effects model with REML method to calculate the pooled prevalence of anxiety and depression. Begg's and Egger's tests were used to identify the potential risk of publication bias. Meta-regression was used to explore potential sources of heterogeneity. RESULTS We identified 130 studies reporting anxiety and depression among 132,068 medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Eight screening tools were identified for anxiety and six for depression. The pooled prevalence of mental health outcomes for anxiety and depression was 45% (95% confidence interval [CI], 40%-49%) and 48% (95% CI, 43%-52%), respectively. The pooled prevalence of mental health outcomes for moderate and severe anxiety and moderate and severe depression was 28% (95% CI, 24%-32%) and 30% (95% CI, 26%-35%), respectively. There was high heterogeneity between studies, with I2 ranging from 99.58%-99.66%. Continent and survey date were included in the meta-regression model. The results of meta-regression revealed that medical students in Asia had a lower prevalence of anxiety, and depression than those in other regions. The survey date (from February to June, 2020) showed a significantly positive correlation with the prevalence of anxiety and depression. CONCLUSIONS We demonstrated the global prevalence of anxiety and depression among medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic. The data highlight that medical students worldwide are at high risk of experiencing anxiety and depression. The reported stressors can be categorized into personal, academic, environmental and cultural, and pandemic factors. Schools and institutions should ensure optimal alternative learning environments for uninterrupted provision of medical education. The appropriate authorities should prioritize the provision of adequate protection for medical students and establish policies to promote new methods of training and education during a disaster, such as via distance learning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yen-Ko Lin
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
- Division of Trauma and Surgical Critical Care, Department of Surgery, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
- Department of Medical Humanities and Education, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
- Department of Emergency Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
- Center for Medical Education and Humanizing Health Professional Education, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
| | - Ita Daryanti Saragih
- Doctoral student, College of Nursing, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Ju Lin
- College of Nursing, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Hsin-Liang Liu
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Chao-Wen Chen
- Division of Trauma and Surgical Critical Care, Department of Surgery, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Department of Emergency Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Yung-Sung Yeh
- Division of Trauma and Surgical Critical Care, Department of Surgery, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Department of Emergency Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
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Häikiö K, Harring AK, Kveen R, Rand K, Jørgensen TM. Reduced quality of life, more technical challenges, and less study motivation among paramedic students after one year of the COVID-19 pandemic - a survey study. BMC MEDICAL EDUCATION 2023; 23:136. [PMID: 36859303 PMCID: PMC9977091 DOI: 10.1186/s12909-023-04120-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Despite the lack of knowledge about the SARS-CoV2 virus, the lack of personal protection gear among frontline healthcare workers, and lack of vaccines in the beginning of the pandemic, paramedic students in Norway contributed to the National response against the COVID-19 pandemic by working in test-stations, ambulance services, ambulance decontamination stations etc. Despite fear of contracting the COVID-19 reported by healthcare workers worldwide, paramedic students in Norway reported higher-than-average quality of life after four months of the COVID-19 pandemic (first pandemic wave). In this study we aimed to investigate how students reported their quality of life, study motivation and job satisfaction after one year of living with the COVID-19 pandemic. METHOD At two data collection point, all paramedic students enrolled at Oslo Metropolitan University were invited to participate in a digital, online, self-administered survey. The first data collection was in June 2020 (the first pandemic wave), while the second data collection was in March 2021 (the third pandemic wave). Results from both samples were analyzed independently with descriptive statistics. Differences between the groups were analyzed using an independent T-test and Mann-Whitney-U test to discover changes over time. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to estimate the difference attributable to timing (first vs. the third wave), seniority, and student gender. RESULTS The samples consist of slightly more female students than male students. The mean age in both samples is 24.6 years. Despite the higher-than-average level of quality of life in the first pandemic wave, results show that there was a significant reduction in students' health-related quality of life (p < 0.001, B -0.059, SE 0.016), study motivation (p = 0.002, 95% CI:0.09,0.41), and job satisfaction (p = 0.005, 95% CI:1.62,9.00) after the third pandemic wave in Norway. Surprisingly, students experienced more technical challenges in the third wave, e.g., poor internet connection, sound pollution, and poor picture quality, despite more experience among students and teachers. CONCLUSION Our results show that paramedic students had significant worsening experiences in the late pandemic wave compared to the first pandemic wave. Universities and governments should learn from the COVID-19 pandemic to develop better preparedness plans for future pandemics and knowledge about students' well-being should be considered in future preparedness plans for higher education and the government plans for the education of front-line healthcare workers during a pandemic to facilitate the continuation of necessary education.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristin Häikiö
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Department for Prehospital Work, Oslo Metropolitan University - OsloMet, Oslo, Norway.
| | - Astrid Karina Harring
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Department for Prehospital Work, Oslo Metropolitan University - OsloMet, Oslo, Norway
| | - Rune Kveen
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Department for Prehospital Work, Oslo Metropolitan University - OsloMet, Oslo, Norway
- Division of Prehospital Services, Oslo University Hospital (OUH), Oslo, Norway
| | - Kim Rand
- HØKH - Health Services Research Unit, Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway
| | - Trine Møgster Jørgensen
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Department for Prehospital Work, Oslo Metropolitan University - OsloMet, Oslo, Norway
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Meyer A, Stosch C, Klatt AR, Streichert T. The impact of COVID-19 on medical students' practical skills and hygiene behavior regarding venipuncture: a case control study. BMC MEDICAL EDUCATION 2022; 22:558. [PMID: 35850715 PMCID: PMC9294821 DOI: 10.1186/s12909-022-03601-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 07/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite their importance to current and future patient care, medical students' hygiene behaviors and acquisition of practical skills have rarely been studied in previous observational study. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on medical student's hygiene and practical skills. METHODS This case-control study assessed the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on hygiene behavior by contrasting the practical skills and hygiene adherence of 371 medical students post the pandemic associated lockdown in March 2020 with that of 355 medical students prior to the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak. Students' skills were assessed using an objective structured clinical examination (OSCE). Their skills were then compared based on their results in hygienic venipuncture and the total OSCE score. RESULTS During the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, medical students demonstrated an increased level of compliance regarding hand hygiene before (prior COVID-19: 83.7%; during COVID-19: 94.9%; p < 0.001) and after patient contact (prior COVID-19: 19.4%; during COVID-19: 57.2%; p = 0.000) as well as disinfecting the puncture site correctly (prior COVID-19: 83.4%; during COVID-19: 92.7%; p < 0.001). Prior to the pandemic, students were more proficient in practical skills, such as initial venipuncture (prior COVID-19: 47.6%; during COVID-19: 38%; p < 0.041), patient communication (prior COVID-19: 85.9%; during COVID-19: 74.1%; p < 0.001) and structuring their work process (prior COVID-19: 74.4%; during COVID-19: 67.4%; p < 0.024). CONCLUSION Overall, the COVID-19 pandemic sensitized medical students' attention and adherence to hygiene requirements, while simultaneously reducing the amount of practice opportunities, thus negatively affecting their practical skills. The latter development may have to be addressed by providing additional practice opportunities for students as soon as the pandemic situation allows.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annika Meyer
- Faculty of medicine and university hospital, department of clinical chemistry, University of Cologne, Kerpener Str. 62, 50937, Cologne, Germany.
| | - Christoph Stosch
- Faculty of medicine and university hospital, Interprofessional Skills Lab and Simulation center (KISS), University of Cologne, Joseph-Stelzmann-Straße 9a, 50931, Cologne, Germany
| | - Andreas R Klatt
- Faculty of medicine and university hospital, department of clinical chemistry, University of Cologne, Kerpener Str. 62, 50937, Cologne, Germany
| | - Thomas Streichert
- Faculty of medicine and university hospital, department of clinical chemistry, University of Cologne, Kerpener Str. 62, 50937, Cologne, Germany
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Barakat M, Farha RA, Muflih S, Al-Tammemi AB, Othman B, Allozi Y, Fino L. The era of E-learning from the perspectives of Jordanian medical students: A cross-sectional study. Heliyon 2022; 8:e09928. [PMID: 35874065 PMCID: PMC9304731 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e09928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2022] [Revised: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 07/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Online learning is becoming a crucial part of the educational process worldwide, especially after the recent COVID-19 pandemic. This study was designed to assess medical students’ perception toward online learning and their perceived preparedness and barriers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods An electronic-based, cross-sectional survey was used to recruit eligible students in Pharmacy, Doctor of Pharmacy, Medicine, Nursing, Dentistry, and Veterinary Medicine programs at various Jordanian universities (public and private). Descriptive and linear regression analysis were conducted using S.P.S.S. software. The perception score was calculated based on a 5-point Likert scale. Results A total of 939 students agreed to participate in this study. The prominent category was females (n = 691, 73.6%), the median age of students was 22.0 years (IQR = 2.0), and around 56% of the students study in private universities (n = 520, 55.6%). More than half of the students reported that their experiences were unsatisfactory or very unsatisfactory (n = 510, 54.3%). The majority of students preferred face-to-face communication with their professors and colleagues and considered it more effective (n = 682, 72.6%). The median of the mean perception score was 2.4 (IQR = 1.1). Regarding challenges and barriers, more than 70% reported weak internet connection, E-learning boredom, and lack of motivation (n = 723, 77.0%). Conclusion This study reported inadequate satisfaction and perception towards the current experience in E-learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. It also discussed the barriers and challenges hindering this transition, such as weak internet connection and the lack of motivation, indicating a need for implementing new pedagogies to enhance students’ experiences regarding online education.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muna Barakat
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Applied Science Private University, 11931 Amman, Jordan
- Corresponding author.
| | - Rana Abu Farha
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Applied Science Private University, 11931 Amman, Jordan
| | - Suhaib Muflih
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid 22110, Jordan
| | - Ala’a B. Al-Tammemi
- Department of Family and Occupational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
- Doctoral School of Health Sciences, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Bayan Othman
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Applied Science Private University, Amman 1931, Jordan
| | - Yasmin Allozi
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Applied Science Private University, 11931 Amman, Jordan
| | - Leen Fino
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Applied Science Private University, Amman 1931, Jordan
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Medical Students and Professionals Facing the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Survey Study about Similarities and Differences. Behav Sci (Basel) 2022; 12:bs12060189. [PMID: 35735400 PMCID: PMC9219906 DOI: 10.3390/bs12060189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Revised: 06/10/2022] [Accepted: 06/10/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
This study aimed at exploring the emotional reaction that medical students (MS) and professionals have faced during the COVID-19 pandemic and investigating the differences between the two groups. A total of 362 MS and 330 professionals filled in an online survey during the second outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy. The outcome measures were psychological distress with the General Health Questionnaire, stress, fear for themselves, fear for family members and cohabitants, perceived control, anger, loneliness, and feeling abandoned by institutions with Visual Analog Scales (VAS) and two open-ended questions about their perceived difficulties and the perceived consequences of the pandemic. The results showed that the level of distress among the two groups was above the threshold (MS mean: 21.85; professionals mean: 21.25). The means of the VAS of MS and professionals showed different results for the two groups, and we analyzed them with independent samples t-tests and linear regressions. MS reported higher levels of perceived loneliness (t(673.177) = −1.970, p < 0.05), while physicians reported more fear for themselves (t(655.183) = 4.799, p < 0.001), anger (t(690) = 2.096, p < 0.05), and feeling abandoned by the institutions (t(690) = 7.296, p < 0.001). The open questions were analyzed considering the most frequent words used to describe their perceived difficulties and consequences; the specificity analysis emphasizes the differences in the words used by the two groups. In conclusion, MS and physicians reported similar levels of psychological symptoms. Physicians were mostly worried about themselves, they were afraid of getting infected, while MS suffered from loneliness and the missed possibilities concerning their education.
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Challenges Facing Undergraduate Medical Education in Ambulatory Care Clinics at Tertiary Care Hospitals. Healthcare (Basel) 2022; 10:healthcare10030496. [PMID: 35326974 PMCID: PMC8951531 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare10030496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Revised: 03/03/2022] [Accepted: 03/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Medical education has been rapidly growing and transforming due to the enormous evolution of medicine. There have been many proficient ways to learn in medicine, but academic lectures, attending wards, and ambulatory care clinics (ACC) remain the three main ways of gaining clinical knowledge and experience for medical students. Over the past decade, there has been a dramatic shift in care by focusing on ambulatory care rather than inpatient settings, which provides a golden opportunity to reinforce medical education. Purpose: Most of the published studies that have focused on the teaching barriers in ACC were descriptive rather than analytic studies. Herein, we aim to detect and determine the barriers to teaching in ACC settings using qualitative analysis. Methods: This is a cross-sectional, observational study, involving medical students in their clerkship years (i.e., fourth and fifth) from two different medical colleges in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Faculty who are involved in undergraduate medical education in both colleges were also included. Main Results: A total of 387 medical students studying at the two universities were enrolled in the study. Most of the participants preferred attending outpatient clinics with consultants (44.2%) and the majority preferred attending internal medicine (IM) and IM subspecialties clinics (40.4%). Regarding the challenges, students believe the top three barriers are related to: faculty (39%), environment (34.8%), and patients (14.8%). Faculty on the other hand see that the top three barriers are related to environment (55.6%), patients (24.4%), and faculty (20%). Conclusion: Undergraduate medical education in outpatient settings has many challenges. In our study, the most significant challenges were COVID-19-related restrictions, patient refusal, and insufficient time for teaching. Future studies are needed to investigate these barriers and explore potential solutions that can decrease their burden on undergraduate medical education.
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Hossain MK, Hassanzadeganroudsari M, Feehan J, Apostolopoulos V. The race for a COVID-19 vaccine: where are we up to? Expert Rev Vaccines 2021; 21:355-376. [PMID: 34937492 DOI: 10.1080/14760584.2022.2021074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION A novel strain of coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, has triggered a global pandemic of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in late 2019. In January 2020, the WHO declared this pandemic a public health emergency. This pandemic has already caused over 5.3 million deaths from more than 272 million infections. The development of a successful vaccine is an urgent global priority to halt the spread of SARS-CoV-2 and prevent further fatalities. Researchers are fast-tracking this process, and there have already been significant developments in preclinical and clinical phases in a relatively short period of time. Some vaccines have been approved either for emergency use or mass application in recent months. AREAS COVERED Herein, we provide a general understanding of the fast-tracked clinical trial procedures and highlight recent successes in preclinical and clinical trials to generate a clearer picture of the progress of COVID-19 vaccine development. EXPERT OPINION A good number of vaccines have been rolled out within a short period a feat unprecedented in medical history. However, the emergence of new variants over time has appeared as a new threat, and the number of infections and casualties is still on the rise and this is going to be an ongoing battle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Kamal Hossain
- Institute for Health and Sport, Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia
| | | | - Jack Feehan
- Institute for Health and Sport, Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia.,Department of Medicine The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
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Zhu J, Racine N, Xie EB, Park J, Watt J, Eirich R, Dobson K, Madigan S. Post-secondary Student Mental Health During COVID-19: A Meta-Analysis. Front Psychiatry 2021; 12:777251. [PMID: 34955924 PMCID: PMC8709535 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.777251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 11/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has posed notable challenges to post-secondary students, causing concern for their psychological well-being. In the face of school closures, academic disruptions, and constraints on social gatherings, it is crucial to understand the extent to which mental health among post-secondary students has been impacted in order to inform support implementation for this population. The present meta-analysis examines the global prevalence of clinically significant depression and anxiety among post-secondary students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Several moderator analyses were also performed to examine sources of variability in depression and anxiety prevalence rates. A systematic search was conducted across six databases on May 3, 2021, yielding a total of 176 studies (1,732,456 participants) which met inclusion criteria. Random-effects meta-analyses of 126 studies assessing depression symptoms and 144 studies assessing anxiety symptoms were conducted. The pooled prevalence estimates of clinically elevated depressive and anxiety symptoms for post-secondary students during the COVID-19 pandemic was 30.6% (95% CI: 0.274, 0.340) and 28.2% (CI: 0.246, 0.321), respectively. The month of data collection and geographical region were determined to be significant moderators. However, student age, sex, type (i.e., healthcare student vs. non-healthcare student), and level of training (i.e., undergraduate, university or college generally; graduate, medical, post-doctorate, fellow, trainee), were not sources of variability in pooled rates of depression and anxiety symptoms during the pandemic. The current study indicates a call for continued access to mental health services to ensure post-secondary students receive adequate support during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Systematic Review Registration: PROSPERO website: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier: CRD42021253547.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenney Zhu
- Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Nicole Racine
- Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | | | - Julianna Park
- Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Julianna Watt
- Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Rachel Eirich
- Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Keith Dobson
- Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Sheri Madigan
- Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Calgary, AB, Canada
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De Micheli G, Vergani L, Mazzoni D, Marton G. After the Pandemic: The Future of Italian Medicine. The Psychological Impact of COVID-19 on Medical and Other Healthcare-Related Degrees Students. Front Psychol 2021; 12:648419. [PMID: 34803788 PMCID: PMC8600185 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.648419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Accepted: 09/30/2021] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective: The study aimed to explore the psychological symptoms and the readiness to fight the pandemic of the new generation of healthcare professionals: medical and other healthcare degree students. Methods: We enrolled 509 medical and healthcare-related degree students during the second outbreak of COVID-19 in Italy. We have examined their psychological symptoms using the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) and their readiness to fight the pandemic together with their academic career status, their relationship with the university, and their emotional reactions to the pandemic with Visual Analog Scales. Results: We retrieved a GHQ mean of 21.65 (SD = 40.63) and readiness to fight the pandemic mean of 53.58 (SD = 31.49). Perceived control affects variables: a negative effect on psychological symptoms and a positive effect on the willingness to fight the pandemic. The other variables with an impact were stress, loneliness, and anger that had a significant and positive impact on psychological symptoms. Age and concern for patients had a significant positive impact on readiness to fight for the pandemic, while years of attendance had a significant but negative impact. Conclusion: Universities and Institutions should consider the impact of the pandemic on students, in particular, for its effect on their mental health.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Laura Vergani
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.,Applied Research Division for Cognitive and Psychological Science, European Institute of Oncology (IRCCS), Milan, Italy
| | - Davide Mazzoni
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Giulia Marton
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.,Applied Research Division for Cognitive and Psychological Science, European Institute of Oncology (IRCCS), Milan, Italy
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Alhasan K, Aljamaan F, Temsah MH, Alshahrani F, Bassrawi R, Alhaboob A, Assiri R, Alenezi S, Alaraj A, Alhomoudi RI, Batais MA, Al-Eyadhy L, Halwani R, AbdulMajeed N, Al-Jedai A, Senjab A, Memish ZA, Al-Subaie S, Barry M, Al-Tawfiq JA. COVID-19 Delta Variant: Perceptions, Worries, and Vaccine-Booster Acceptability among Healthcare Workers. Healthcare (Basel) 2021; 9:1566. [PMID: 34828612 PMCID: PMC8621199 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare9111566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2021] [Revised: 10/23/2021] [Accepted: 11/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: As the COVID-19 Delta variant has spread across the globe, healthcare workers' (HCWs) knowledge, worries, and vaccine booster acceptance should be assessed. Methods: Online questionnaires aimed at HCWs in Saudi Arabia were distributed between 9 and 12 August 2021, aiming to evaluate HCWs' perceptions and worries about the Delta variant as well as their feelings about receiving a booster-vaccine. Results: A total of 1279 HCWs participated, with 51.1% being physicians and 41.7% nurses. 92.5% were aware of the emergence of the Delta variant. Still, only 28.7% were found to have sufficient knowledge of the variant, and their level of worry about it was higher than their level of worry about the Alpha variant (2.32/5 versus 1.79/5). The main information sources cited by the participants were social media (50.5%), while 30.5% used scientific journals. Overall, 55.3% were willing to receive a vaccine booster, while one third would have preferred to receive a new mRNA vaccine specifically developed for the Delta variant. Factors associated with vaccine booster acceptance were receiving both vaccination doses (p = 0.008), believing that the Pfizer-BioNTech BNT162b2 vaccine is effective against variants (p < 0.001), and agreement that mixing/matching vaccines is effective against variants (p < 0.001). Conclusions: A high percentage of HCWs were aware of the Delta variant, but only a small fraction had decent quality of knowledge about it. The participants exhibited high worry levels and showed a modest acceptance of receiving a vaccine booster dose. These results should encourage public health officials to scale up educational efforts to disseminate reliable information about the different variants and provide recommendations about receiving a vaccine booster. Further research on methods to alleviate HCWs' worries about emerging variants is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khalid Alhasan
- Pediatric Department, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia; (K.A.); (A.A.); (L.A.-E.); (S.A.-S.)
- Pediatric Department, King Saud University Medical City, Riyadh 11362, Saudi Arabia; (R.B.); (R.I.A.); (N.A.)
| | - Fadi Aljamaan
- Critical Care Department, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Mohamad-Hani Temsah
- Pediatric Department, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia; (K.A.); (A.A.); (L.A.-E.); (S.A.-S.)
- Pediatric Department, King Saud University Medical City, Riyadh 11362, Saudi Arabia; (R.B.); (R.I.A.); (N.A.)
- Prince Abdullah Ben Khaled Celiac Disease Research Chair, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Fatimah Alshahrani
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, King Saud University Medical City, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia; (F.A.); (M.B.)
| | - Rolan Bassrawi
- Pediatric Department, King Saud University Medical City, Riyadh 11362, Saudi Arabia; (R.B.); (R.I.A.); (N.A.)
| | - Ali Alhaboob
- Pediatric Department, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia; (K.A.); (A.A.); (L.A.-E.); (S.A.-S.)
- Pediatric Department, King Saud University Medical City, Riyadh 11362, Saudi Arabia; (R.B.); (R.I.A.); (N.A.)
| | - Rasha Assiri
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Princess Nourah Bent Abdulrahman University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Shuliweeh Alenezi
- Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Ali Alaraj
- Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, Qassim University, Buraydah 51452, Saudi Arabia;
- Department of Medicine, Doctor Sulaiman Al Habib Medical Group, Riyadh 11643, Saudi Arabia
| | - Reham I. Alhomoudi
- Pediatric Department, King Saud University Medical City, Riyadh 11362, Saudi Arabia; (R.B.); (R.I.A.); (N.A.)
| | - Mohammed A. Batais
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Lama Al-Eyadhy
- Pediatric Department, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia; (K.A.); (A.A.); (L.A.-E.); (S.A.-S.)
| | - Rabih Halwani
- Sharjah Institute of Medical Research, University of Sharjah, Sharjah 27272, United Arab Emirates;
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah 27272, United Arab Emirates
| | - Naif AbdulMajeed
- Pediatric Department, King Saud University Medical City, Riyadh 11362, Saudi Arabia; (R.B.); (R.I.A.); (N.A.)
- Pediatric Nephrology Department, Prince Sultan Military Medical City, Riyadh 12233, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahmed Al-Jedai
- Deputyship of Therapeutic Affairs, Ministry of Health, Riyadh 11176, Saudi Arabia;
- Colleges of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh 11533, Saudi Arabia;
| | | | - Ziad A. Memish
- King Saud Medical City, Ministry of Health & Alfaisal University, Riyadh 11533, Saudi Arabia;
- Hubert Department of Global Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Sarah Al-Subaie
- Pediatric Department, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia; (K.A.); (A.A.); (L.A.-E.); (S.A.-S.)
- Pediatric Department, King Saud University Medical City, Riyadh 11362, Saudi Arabia; (R.B.); (R.I.A.); (N.A.)
| | - Mazin Barry
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, King Saud University Medical City, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia; (F.A.); (M.B.)
| | - Jaffar A. Al-Tawfiq
- Specialty Internal Medicine and Quality Department, Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare, Dhahran 34465, Saudi Arabia;
- Department of Medicine, Infectious Disease Division, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
- Department of Medicine, Infectious Disease Division, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
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11
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Impact of COVID-19 on the Mental Health of Medical Students in Portugal. J Pers Med 2021; 11:jpm11100986. [PMID: 34683127 PMCID: PMC8540505 DOI: 10.3390/jpm11100986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Revised: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: The purpose of this article is to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of medical students in Portugal in the period after returning to face-to-face classes during the COVID-19 pandemic, in the 2020/2021 academic year. (2) Methods: We conducted an observational, descriptive, and cross-sectional study, between December 2020 and February 2021 with a representative sample of Portuguese medical students (n = 649), applying an anonymous questionnaire which was composed by a sociodemographic characterization, The Brief Symptoms Inventory-18, The Fear of COVID-19 Scale and the Negative Impact Assessment Scale. For statistical processing, Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS ©) was used. (3) Results: 65.3% of participants said that self-perceived relevant anxiety symptoms, and around 10% said that they had a physical or a mental illness diagnosis. Significant differences (p < 0.05) were found for Fear of COVID-19, Somatization, Anxiety and Overall Mental Health, indicating that women, students from the 1st and last years of training had higher scores. Age, year of training, Fear of COVID-19 and Negative Impact of COVID-19 were significant predictors of overall mental health. (4) Conclusion: In our sample of Portuguese medical students, age, year of training, but mostly fear of COVID-19 and the negative impact of COVID-19 contributed to mental health symptoms.
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The Development and Validation of a Measure to Assess COVID-19 Stress among College Students for Sustainable Education. SUSTAINABILITY 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/su13179828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on students’ personal, academic, and social life has been quite stressful. The threat to life from the virus, social isolation, and the need to shift from face-to-face learning to online mode has been challenging. Thus, the purpose of the present study was to develop and validate a self-administered tool to assess the source of COVID-19 pandemic stress among college students. The data was collected online using google forms in two phases. The data collected from 173 participants from phase one was analyzed using exploratory factor analysis (EFA). The second phase data of 216 participants were analyzed to validate the factor structure using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The standardized factor loadings, Composite Reliability (CR), and AVE of factors were assessed to determine the convergent validity of the scale. Similarly, discriminant validity and concurrent predictive validity were assessed through the HTMT ratio of correlations and ROC curves, respectively. A succession of Exploratory Factor Analysis yielded a five-factor solution, explaining 73.83 percent variance with 13 indices. CFA via maximum likelihood with bootstrapping indicated a good fit for the five-factor model (SRMR = 0.037, RMSEA = 0.049, CFI = 0.981). The standardized factor loadings, Composite Reliability (CR), and AVE of factors together suggest acceptable convergent validity. Further, the ROC curve results to assess stress indicated an acceptable AUC, with a magnitude of 0.79, p < 0.01, indicating concurrent predictive validity for the five-factor Student COVID-19 Stress Scale (SCSS). HTMT ratio of correlations <0.85 indicated discriminant validity for the factor structure. The CR > 0.70 for the dimensions indicated acceptable reliability. Thus, the SCSS can be an effective instrument to assess the source of pandemic stress among students so that tailor-made timely interventions can be provided to prevent long-term adverse effects.
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Shaiba LA, Alnamnakani MA, Temsah MH, Alamro N, Alsohime F, Alrabiaah A, Alanazi SN, Alhasan K, Alherbish A, Mobaireek KF, Bashiri FA, AlRuthia Y. Medical Faculty's and Students' Perceptions toward Pediatric Electronic OSCE during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Saudi Arabia. Healthcare (Basel) 2021; 9:950. [PMID: 34442087 PMCID: PMC8393546 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare9080950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2021] [Revised: 07/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The educational process in different medical schools has been negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic worldwide. As a part of the Saudi government's attempts to contain the spread of the virus, schools' and universities' educational activities and face-to-face lectures have been modified to virtual classrooms. The purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions of the faculty and the students of an electronic objective structured clinical examination (E-OSCE) activity that took place during the COVID-19 pandemic in the oldest medical school in Saudi Arabia. METHODS An e-OSCE style examination was designed for the final-year medical students by the pediatrics department, College of Medicine at King Saud University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The examination was administered by Zoom™ video conferencing where both students and faculty participated through their laptop or desktop computers. In order to explore the students' and the faculty's perceptions about this experience, a newly designed 13-item online questionnaire was administered at the end of the e-OSCE. RESULTS Out of 136 participants (23 faculty and 112 students), 73 respondents (e.g., 54% response rate) filled out the questionnaire. Most of the respondents (69.8%) were very comfortable with this new virtual experience. Most participants (53.4%) preferred the e-OSCE compared to the classic face-to-face clinical OSCE during the pandemic. Regarding the e-OSCE assessment student tool, 46.6% reported that it is similar to the classic face-to-face OSCE; however, 38.4% felt it was worse. CONCLUSIONS The e-OSCE can be a very effective alternative to the classic face-to-face OSCE due to the current circumstances that still pose a significant risk of infection transmission. Future studies should examine different virtual strategies to ensure effective OSCE delivery from the perspective of both faculty and students.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lana A. Shaiba
- College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh 11362, Saudi Arabia; (L.A.S.); (M.A.A.); (N.A.); (F.A.); (A.A.); (S.N.A.); (K.A.); (A.A.); (K.F.M.); (F.A.B.)
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, King Saud University Medical City, King Saud University, Riyadh 11362, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mahdi A. Alnamnakani
- College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh 11362, Saudi Arabia; (L.A.S.); (M.A.A.); (N.A.); (F.A.); (A.A.); (S.N.A.); (K.A.); (A.A.); (K.F.M.); (F.A.B.)
- General Pediatric Unit, Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, King Saud University Medical City, King Saud University, Riyadh 11362, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohamad-Hani Temsah
- College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh 11362, Saudi Arabia; (L.A.S.); (M.A.A.); (N.A.); (F.A.); (A.A.); (S.N.A.); (K.A.); (A.A.); (K.F.M.); (F.A.B.)
- Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Pediatric Department, College of Medicine, King Saud University Medical City, King Saud University, Riyadh 11362, Saudi Arabia
- Undergraduate Committee, Pediatric Department, King Saud University, Riyadh 11362, Saudi Arabia
| | - Nurah Alamro
- College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh 11362, Saudi Arabia; (L.A.S.); (M.A.A.); (N.A.); (F.A.); (A.A.); (S.N.A.); (K.A.); (A.A.); (K.F.M.); (F.A.B.)
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, King Saud University Medical City, King Saud University, Riyadh 11362, Saudi Arabia
| | - Fahad Alsohime
- College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh 11362, Saudi Arabia; (L.A.S.); (M.A.A.); (N.A.); (F.A.); (A.A.); (S.N.A.); (K.A.); (A.A.); (K.F.M.); (F.A.B.)
- Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Pediatric Department, College of Medicine, King Saud University Medical City, King Saud University, Riyadh 11362, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdulkarim Alrabiaah
- College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh 11362, Saudi Arabia; (L.A.S.); (M.A.A.); (N.A.); (F.A.); (A.A.); (S.N.A.); (K.A.); (A.A.); (K.F.M.); (F.A.B.)
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases Unit, Pediatric Department, College of Medicine, King Saud University Medical City, King Saud University, Riyadh 11362, Saudi Arabia
| | - Shahad N. Alanazi
- College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh 11362, Saudi Arabia; (L.A.S.); (M.A.A.); (N.A.); (F.A.); (A.A.); (S.N.A.); (K.A.); (A.A.); (K.F.M.); (F.A.B.)
| | - Khalid Alhasan
- College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh 11362, Saudi Arabia; (L.A.S.); (M.A.A.); (N.A.); (F.A.); (A.A.); (S.N.A.); (K.A.); (A.A.); (K.F.M.); (F.A.B.)
- Pediatric Nephrology Unit, Pediatric Department, King Saud University Medical City, King Saud University, Riyadh 11362, Saudi Arabia
| | - Adi Alherbish
- College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh 11362, Saudi Arabia; (L.A.S.); (M.A.A.); (N.A.); (F.A.); (A.A.); (S.N.A.); (K.A.); (A.A.); (K.F.M.); (F.A.B.)
- Pediatric Nephrology Unit, Pediatric Department, King Saud University Medical City, King Saud University, Riyadh 11362, Saudi Arabia
| | - Khalid F. Mobaireek
- College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh 11362, Saudi Arabia; (L.A.S.); (M.A.A.); (N.A.); (F.A.); (A.A.); (S.N.A.); (K.A.); (A.A.); (K.F.M.); (F.A.B.)
- Pulmonary Medicine Unit, Pediatric Department, King Saud University Medical City, King Saud University, Riyadh 11362, Saudi Arabia
| | - Fahad A. Bashiri
- College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh 11362, Saudi Arabia; (L.A.S.); (M.A.A.); (N.A.); (F.A.); (A.A.); (S.N.A.); (K.A.); (A.A.); (K.F.M.); (F.A.B.)
- Pediatric Neurology Unit, Pediatric Department, College of Medicine, King Saud University Medical City, King Saud University, Riyadh 11362, Saudi Arabia
| | - Yazed AlRuthia
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia;
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