Discussion on the Promotion of Grass-roots Employment of Medical Students by Curriculum Thought and Politics under the New Normal

IntroductionIn this study, we aimed to explore the attitude of medical students toward their roles and social accountability in this pandemic era. An online survey asked questions covering the topics of 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. MethodsThe online survey, developed by a team consisting of 3 medical students, 3 psychiatric residents, and 3 psychiatric professors, was distributed to medical students, graduates, and professors in a single South Korean medical school. Anxiety symptom rating scales, including the Stress and Anxiety to Viral Epidemic - 6 (SAVE-6) scale and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder - 7 (GAD-7) scale, were also applied to measure participant anxiety level.ResultsAll of the 213 medical students, 180 graduates, and 181 professors that participated in this online survey were at the same medical school. 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 medical school curriculum rather than join the response. In the new normal era, medical education was considered to be changed 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 rated higher on the SAVE-6 scale. Finally, medical students who reported that COVID-19 had an influence on their studies and daily life rated higher on the general anxiety scale (GAD-7). ConclusionSocial accountability is an important issue for medical students in the pandemic era. At the same time, cultivating professionalism is also important for the readiness for the future healthcare responses.

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The Patterns and Predictors of Loneliness for the Chinese Medical Students Since Post-Lockdown to New Normal With COVID-19

Frontiers in Public Health ◽

10.3389/fpubh.2021.679178 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 ◽

Author(s):

Hui Zhang ◽

Jun Yang ◽

Yuxin Li ◽

Gaoyue Ren ◽

Lina Mu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Medical Students ◽

Latent Profile Analysis ◽

Profile Analysis ◽

New Normal ◽

Face To Face ◽

Chinese Medical Students ◽

Medical University ◽

Junior Students ◽

Latent Profile

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related quarantine has had unique psychological challenges for medical students, particularly loneliness. In this study, we demonstrated the patterns and predictors of loneliness in medical students since post-lockdown to new normal with COVID-19.Methods: A convenience sampling method was used in this study. Face-to-face online questionnaires of UCLA Loneliness Scale and psychological characteristics scales were completed by 1,478 participants. Latent profile analysis and multinominal logistic regressions were performed.Results: Three latent profile models were identified in this study: low loneliness (52.3%), interpersonal sensitivity loneliness (3.5%), and high loneliness (44.1%). Sophomore (Est = 1.937; p < 0.05) and junior students (Est = 2.939; p < 0.05), neuroticism (Est = 2.475; p < 0.05), high arousal symptoms (Est = 2.618; p < 0.01), and the quality of support from friends (Est = 2.264; p < 0.05) were the risk factors for high loneliness profile. In addition, sophomore (Est = 2.065; p < 0.05) and junior students (Est = 2.702; p < 0.01), openness (Est = 2.303; p < 0.05), and conscientiousness personality (Est = −2.348; p < 0.05) were the predictors of an interpersonal sensitive loneliness profile. Good peer relationship (Est = −2.266; p < 0.05) and other support (Est = −2.247; p < 0.05) were protective factors for low loneliness profile.Limitations: Participants were selected from one medical university; the generalizability is limited.Conclusions: Timely loneliness-focused interventions should be targeted on the different profiles and predictors of loneliness in medical students.

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Attitude of Medical Students About Their Role and Social Accountability in the COVID-19 Pandemic

Frontiers in Psychiatry ◽

10.3389/fpsyt.2021.645340 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Jihoon Hong ◽

Ikjae Jung ◽

Mingeol Park ◽

Kyumin Kim ◽

Sungook Yeo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Medical Education ◽

Medical Students ◽

Online Survey ◽

Rating Scales ◽

Social Accountability ◽

New Normal ◽

General Anxiety ◽

Adequate Knowledge ◽

Academic Calendar ◽

The Impact

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.

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A longitudinal investigation of mental health, perceived learning environment and burdens in a cohort of first-year German medical students’ before and during the COVID-19 ‘new normal’

BMC Medical Education ◽

10.1186/s12909-021-02798-2 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Ann-Kathrin Schindler ◽

Sabine Polujanski ◽

Thomas Rotthoff

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Medical Students ◽

Learning Environment ◽

Medical School ◽

Repeated Measures ◽

Well Being ◽

Learning Material ◽

Perceived Learning ◽

New Normal ◽

Study Programme

Abstract Background Medical students’ propensity to develop mental morbidity has been described for decades but remains unresolved. To assess student mental health person-centred and longitudinally, we have been investigating a cohort of German students since October 2019. After their first semester under ‘normal’ conditions, rapid changes became necessary due to the COVID-19 situation. In line with the initial aim, we investigated students’ change of mental health, perceived learning environment and burdens in the ‘new normal’. Methods Students in a newly founded German medical study programme (n = 63) answered a questionnaire each semester (October 2019 = entering medical school; December 2019 = ‘old normal’; June 2020 = ‘new normal’; December 2020 = ‘new normal’) on their well-being (FAHW-12), burnout (Maslach Inventory), depression (PHQ-9), perception of the learning environment (DREEM), burdens and protective attitudes in the ‘new normal’ (items designed for the study). Results Friedman tests reveal overall significant differences (all p < .001) in depression and burnout (emotional exhaustion, depersonalisation, personal accomplishment); changes in well-being were identified as just non-significant (p = .05). The effects were explained by a significant increase in burnout and depression identified post-hoc from October 2019 to December 2019. No increase in severity was identified in the ‘new normal’ semesters. The learning environment was perceived positively even with a significant improvement for June 2020 (repeated measures ANOVA p < .001). Study-related burdens (e.g. procrastination of online-learning material) took on greater relevance than burdens related to physicians’ occupation (e.g. potential for students' recruitment to the healthcare system during their studies). Conclusions The ‘new’ when entering medical school had a greater impact on our students’ mental health than the ‘new normal’. The readiness for change in the context of a newly designed study programme may have been beneficial with regard to students’ positively perceived learning environment during the virtual semesters. Monitoring medical students’ mental health longitudinally should be a concern regardless of a pandemic.

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Preparing new normal: the health literacy assessment on the Covid-19

Berita Kedokteran Masyarakat ◽

10.22146/bkm.63081 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 37 (1) ◽

pp. 27

Author(s):

Supriyati Supriyati ◽

Dian Kurnia Angraeny ◽

Theodora Monica Carissa ◽

Abicintha Pramesti Sheila ◽

Shiefa Annisa Qisthi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Literacy ◽

Medical Students ◽

P Value ◽

Literacy Assessment ◽

Online Questionnaire ◽

Chi Square ◽

New Normal ◽

Rapid Action ◽

Group Data ◽

Protocol Compliance

Purpose: This study was aimed to assess the health literacy of the COVID-19 for both of the knowledge level on the Covid-19 and the health protocol compliance by the medical and the non-medical student. Method: This rapid action research was conducted from July-August 2020. Respondents were Indonesian students who voluntarily fulfilled the online questionnaire. A total 208 respondents participated in this study (104 students for each group). Data analysis was performed by using chi square. Furthermore, an animation video was developed and published through Instagram TV as the follow up assessment. Results: The result showed that the medical students had better knowledge (41.8% vs 33.2%, p-value=0.000) and health protocol compliance (6.3% vs 2.4%, p-value=0.049) than the non-medical students. The lowest compliance towards health protocol of the both groups was the physical distancing. Moreover, the health education regarding physical distancing by using animation video had reached audiences. According to the audiences’ comments, the video made them aware of the importance of physical distancing. Conclusion: It was important to improve health literacy for preparing new normal, and it should be developed based on the need assessment.

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