Medical student wellness in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic: a nationwide survey

Nikolis, Louis; Wakim, Andrea; Adams, William; Bajaj, Prempreet

doi:10.1186/s12909-021-02837-y

Cited by 23 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 34 publications

(42 reference statements)

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“…Across the world, medical students have reported dissatisfaction with online medical school education. In the U.S., a survey of 1,389 medical students revealed that online education significantly decreased students’ overall wellness [ 14 ]. Two separate studies from Jordan reported that 26.8% and 25% of medical students, respectively, were not satisfied with their online education [ 15 , 16 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Medical student’s perception of the COVID-19 pandemic effect on their education and well-being: a cross-sectional survey in the United States

Chakladar

Diomino

et al. 2022

BMC Med Educ

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Background The effects of drastic curricular changes necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic on medical students’ education and wellbeing have remained largely unstudied. Out study aimed to characterize how medical students were affected by the pandemic, specifically how limitations introduced by the pandemic may have affected the quality, delivery, and experience of medical education. Methods Three hundred students from 5 U.S. allopathic medical schools were surveyed to determine students’ perceptions about their quality of medical education, professional development, and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic (October 2020-December 2020). Results A large majority of students report that while lecture-based learning has not been significantly affected by the pandemic, small-group and clinical learning have greatly declined in quality. Students also reported higher levels of depression, anxiety, and uncertainty with regards to their futures as physicians. Conclusions The COVID-19 pandemic has greatly affected the medical student education and wellbeing. Although medical schools have implemented measures to continue to train medical students as effectively as they can, further strategies must be devised to ensure the well-being of students in the present and for future national emergencies.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Medical student’s perception of the COVID-19 pandemic effect on their education and well-being: a cross-sectional survey in the United States

Chakladar

Diomino

et al. 2022

BMC Med Educ

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“…Some studies have found that almost 50% of medical students experience burnout [ 2 , 3 ]. Specifically, during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, medical students reported a decline in their overall wellness [ 4 ], detriments to mental health [ 5 ], as well as worsened learning behaviors [ 5 ], forcing medical educators to consider effective and novel ways to train physicians [ 6 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Yoga as an adjunct activity for medical students learning anatomy

et al. 2022

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Background Medical students experience high levels of stress during training due to demanding course loads which often leaves less time for self-care. This study combines the self-care technique of yoga with learning anatomical locations, innervations, actions, and functions of the muscles and organs to determine if anatomy tests scores are improved and whether students’ stress levels attenuate from participating in yoga. Methods In this randomized controlled study, 64 student volunteers were randomized into either a yoga intervention group or wait list control group throughout the M1 anatomy course. The yoga group (n = 32) participated in 8 yoga sessions synced with the anatomy topics they were learning in lecture. The wait list group (n = 32) went through their normal anatomy curriculum but had an option to participate in the same yoga sessions after the anatomy course. The primary research purpose was to determine whether yoga improved anatomy exam performance by comparing four anatomy exam scores between the two groups. The secondary research purposes included the following: to determine whether yoga classes including anatomy teaching still conferred acute and long-lasting stress relief by, respectively, comparing a students’ own pre- and post-yoga stress level and self-perceived stress levels between the two groups; and to determine if a student’s confidence in anatomy was improved after a yoga session. Results There was no significant difference in anatomy exam performance between students who received yoga and those on the waitlist (all p > 0.05). For students who received yoga, their average self-reported stress levels decreased after each yoga session, their average DASS (Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale) score decreased after a yoga session, but they were not significantly less stressed than their waitlist peers prior to an exam, and their self-reported confidence in anatomy material related to the back, upper extremity, head and neck, and abdomen/pelvis increased. Conclusion With this sample, there was no evidence that yoga sessions paired with anatomy lecture material improved overall anatomy exam performance, as opposed to only the musculoskeletal portion which other studies have looked at. However, yoga acutely reduced stress levels, and subjective feelings of knowledge improvement were noted by participants. Both of these can provide benefits to medical students.

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“…Previous studies have demonstrated that the greater the importance of identity, the more one feels important to others, which enhances the purpose of life. A purposeful life makes people happier, and, therefore, higher PI may increase one’s happiness [ 44 , 45 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pre-medical students’ perceptions of educational environment and their subjective happiness: a comparative study before and after the COVID-19 pandemic

et al. 2021

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Background The COVID-19 pandemic necessarily changed pre-medical students’ educational environment into an online format—and students’ subjective happiness (SH) is highly impacted by their educational environment. This study investigates changes in pre-medical students’ perceptions of their educational environment and their SH before and after the pandemic, as well as explores the predictors related to their SH. Methods The Korean version of the Dundee Ready Educational Environment Measure (DREEM) questionnaire and single-item measures of SH and professional identity (PI) were used. The t-test was employed to analyze the differences of the SH, PI, and DREEM subscales scores before and after the onset of COVID-19. Cohen’s d was used as effect size and correlations between SH and different subscales of DREEM were analyzed using Pearson’s correlation. The multiple regression analysis was performed to reveal associations between predictors and SH. Results A total of 399 pre-medical students completed the survey both before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. The DREEM scores and all subscales scores significantly increased but each presents a different effect size. Students’ Perceptions of Learning (SPL: Cohen’s d = 0.97), Students’ Perceptions of Teaching (SPT: Cohen’s d = 1.13), and Students’ Perceptions of Atmosphere (SPA: Cohen’s d = 0.89) have large effect sizes. Students’ Academic Self-Perceptions (SASP: Cohen’s d = 0.66) have a medium effect size and Students’ Social Self-Perceptions (SSSP: Cohen’s d = 0.40) have a small effect size. In contrast, no significant change was noted in the SH and PI. Both PI and SSSP impacted SH before COVID-19, but after the pandemic, SH was impacted by SPL, SPA, and SSSP. Conclusions Students’ overall perception of their educational environment was more positive after the onset of COVID-19, but their social self-perceptions improved the least. Additionally, SSSP is the only predictor of SH both before and after the pandemic. The findings of this study suggest that educational institutions must pay attention to students’ social relationships when trying to improve their educational environment. Furthermore, so as to increase students’ SH, development of both educational environment and PI is essential.

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Medical student wellness in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic: a nationwide survey

Cited by 23 publications

References 34 publications

Medical student’s perception of the COVID-19 pandemic effect on their education and well-being: a cross-sectional survey in the United States

Medical student’s perception of the COVID-19 pandemic effect on their education and well-being: a cross-sectional survey in the United States

Yoga as an adjunct activity for medical students learning anatomy

Pre-medical students’ perceptions of educational environment and their subjective happiness: a comparative study before and after the COVID-19 pandemic

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