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Nikendei C, Dinger-Ehrenthal U, Schumacher F, Bugaj TJ, Cranz A, Friedrich HC, Herpertz SC, Terhoeven V. Medical students' mental burden and experiences of voluntary work in COVID-19 patient support and treatment services: a qualitative analysis. GMS J Med Educ 2021; 38:Doc120. [PMID: 34957325 PMCID: PMC8675374 DOI: 10.3205/zma001516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2021] [Revised: 06/14/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Aim: Medical training is undergoing a dramatic shift toward alternative training methods due to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. This study is the first to examine medical students' expectations, experiences, and mental burden related to volunteering in COVID-19 patient support and treatment services using semi-structured interviews. Methods: In May 2020, all 194 Heidelberg University Medical School students involved in volunteer COVID-19 support and treatment services were invited to participate in a cross-sectional, qualitative interview study. The semi-structured interviews were digitally recorded, transcribed, and then analyzed using Mayring's principles for content analysis. Results: We interviewed 12 medical students (8 female, mean age 23.2 years, mean medical training 3.7 years) working in Heidelberg COVID-19 crises management services, i.e., the Heidelberg Medical Hospital COVID-19 inpatient and outpatient units. The analysis revealed two key themes: "Expectations and structural barriers" and "Experiences and mental burden". The participants reported uncertainty and apprehension before starting their voluntary work. Although they initially found volunteering to be somewhat disorganized, their roles became clearer with time. In addition, they reported good team cohesion, which helped reduce initial concerns and uncertainties. The participants also felt that working in the field had helped them maintain their professional identification while standard medical classes and bedside learning were suspended due to the COVID-19 crises. Overall, they reported little volunteer work-related mental burden. Conclusions: The participants felt that volunteering during the COVID-19 crisis had benefited their professional development. A designated liaison person, psychosocial support, and introductory and accompanying courses could help alleviate initial concerns and interim difficulties in future crisis-related assignments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christoph Nikendei
- Heidelberg University Hospital, Centre for Psychosocial Medicine, Department for General Internal Medicine and Psychosomatics, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Ulrike Dinger-Ehrenthal
- Heidelberg University Hospital, Centre for Psychosocial Medicine, Department for General Internal Medicine and Psychosomatics, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Florian Schumacher
- University of Heidelberg, Medical Faculty, Dean's Office, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Till J. Bugaj
- Heidelberg University Hospital, Centre for Psychosocial Medicine, Department for General Internal Medicine and Psychosomatics, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Anna Cranz
- Heidelberg University Hospital, Centre for Psychosocial Medicine, Department for General Internal Medicine and Psychosomatics, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Hans-Christoph Friedrich
- Heidelberg University Hospital, Centre for Psychosocial Medicine, Department for General Internal Medicine and Psychosomatics, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Sabine C. Herpertz
- University of Heidelberg, Medical Faculty, Dean's Office, Heidelberg, Germany
- Heidelberg University Hospital, Centre for Psychosocial Medicine, Department for General Psychiatry, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Valentin Terhoeven
- Heidelberg University Hospital, Centre for Psychosocial Medicine, Department for General Internal Medicine and Psychosomatics, Heidelberg, Germany
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