Abstract
Background: In this study, we aimed to explore the attitude of medical students toward their role and social accountability in this pandemic era. An online survey was developed to elicit information on (1) the role of medical students in the pandemic era; (2) Medical education in the “new normal,” and (3) the impact of COVID-19 on medical students.Methods: The online survey, developed by a team consisting of three medical students, three psychiatry residents, and three professors of psychiatry, was conducted on 574 participants (213 medical students, 180 graduates, and 181 professors) in the University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea. Anxiety symptom rating scales, including the Stress and Anxiety to Viral Epidemics-6 (SAVE-6) scale and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder−7 (GAD-7) scale, were applied to measure participant anxiety level.Results: Medical students indicated their willingness to join the healthcare response to the COVID-19 pandemic, if requested; however, graduates and professors recommended that medical students continue their training rather than join the pandemic healthcare response. In the new normal era, medical education has had to change appropriately. Moreover, adequate knowledge of COVID-19 infection and spread must be considered for the continuation of clinical clerkships during the pandemic. Overall, medical students who indicated anxiety about treating possible or confirmed cases of COVID-19 rated higher on the SAVE-6 scale. Finally, medical students who reported that COVID-19 had an impact on their studies and daily life rated higher on the general anxiety scale (GAD-7).Conclusion: Social accountability is an important issue for medical students in the pandemic era. At the same time, non-disruption of their academic calendar would ensure continuous availability of component medical professionals, which is important for adequate future healthcare responses.
Highlights
Coronavirus Disease-19 (COVID-19) is an infectious respiratory disease caused by a novel type of the coronavirus (SARS-CoV2), which spread throughout China and around the world since the first case was reported in Wuhan, Hubei Province, in December 2019 [1]
A slightly lower level of anxiety was observed in the graduate group regarding viral epidemics, as measured by Stress and Anxiety to Viral Epidemics-6 items (SAVE-6) (Table 1)
This study attempted to develop a social consensus on the extent to which medical students should play a role within the medical and healthcare system
Summary
Coronavirus Disease-19 (COVID-19) is an infectious respiratory disease caused by a novel type of the coronavirus (SARS-CoV2), which spread throughout China and around the world since the first case was reported in Wuhan, Hubei Province, in December 2019 [1]. In Korea, since the first reported case on January 20, 2020, the COVID-19 crisis level has remained at a “severe” level. Korea has reported 109,559 cases, with 1,768 deaths due to COVID-19-related causes [3]. The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the daily lives of people, as the changes that were implemented related to the infection itself and to the general lifestyle. An online survey was developed to elicit information on [1] the role of medical students in the pandemic era; [2] Medical education in the “new normal,” and [3] the impact of COVID-19 on medical students
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