Role, Knowledge, and Readiness of Medical Undergraduate Students and Factors Influencing their Willingness to Participate in the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic placed a high demand for health-care professionals coupled with their decreased availability. In this study, we aimed to determine the medical students’ perception of their role and preparedness during the COVID-19 pandemic and their knowledge of the same. We also determined the factors influencing the knowledge scores and willingness of medical students to help during the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in June 2021. Medical students in any year of their M.B.B.S, enrolled in various medical colleges across India, who spoke English and were able to fill out the predesigned online questionnaire, were eligible for participation after an implied informed consent. Results: Seven hundred and sixty-four responses were obtained from undergraduate medical students (32.5% 1st preclinical, 17.8% 2nd para-clinical, 29.1% 3rd clinical, and 20.6% 4th clinical) with representations from 20 different states of India. Among the respondents, 57.2% wanted to contribute to the management of the pandemic, although only 50.8% felt mentally ready and a paltry 2.2% felt knowledge ready. While 69.8% of respondents were ready to help in ways not requiring direct patient contact, 35.5% were willing to engage in direct patient contact. The average total knowledge score was 12.67/20. Students in Government Institutes (P < 0.00001), senior years (P < 0.0001), who received online training (P < 0.00006) and referred to reliable sources of information (P = 0.001) had better knowledge scores. Those in senior years (P < 0.0001), better knowledge scores (P = 0.0026), lesser fear of infecting themselves (P = 0.0004), and better mental readiness (P < 0.0001) were more willing to fight against the pandemic. Conclusions: Medical students may be deployed in tasks not involving direct patient contact amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Those who volunteer may be involved in supervised direct patient care. Students may be better equipped to fight the pandemic by online training and dissemination of knowledge through reliable sources with an emphasis on methods to protect self.