ABSTRACT
Context: Since December 2019, medical practitioners discovered a novel coronavirus causing an acute respiratory-tract infection in some hospitals in Wuhan, Hubei Province. COVID-19 has spread globally, making it an epidemic worldwide at present. Understanding the mental-health responses of college students to COVID-19 can help a school staff to better guide students seeking education. Objective: The study aimed to explore the differences between nonmedical and medical college students during the COVID-19 epidemic in their cognitive interest about the disease, preventive behaviors, psychological effects, and job-search intentions, hoping to provide more targeted measures for virus-coping education for college students. Design: The research team conducted a cross-sectional study, using an anonymous online questionnaire. Setting: The study took place at Shanghai, China. Participants: Participants were 1648 college students studying different specialties in various provinces of China, 485 nonmedical students and 1163 medical students. Outcome Measures: The survey's questions covered the respondents': (1) general demographic characteristics, (2) cognitive interest and knowledge about COVID-19 and its infectiousness as well as efforts at active learning about infectious diseases and viruses, (3) awareness of precautionary behaviors against COVID-19, (4) effects on mental health, and (5) effects on job-search intentions. The research team used descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests to analyze the survey data. Results: Among nonmedical students: (1) 297 participants (61.2%) were interested in learning about COVID-19, (2) 321 participants (66.2%) took the initiative to learn about the virus, (3) 301 participants (62.1%) took the initiative to learn about infectious disease, and (4) 151 participants (31.1%) watched medical-themed movies or TV series about COVID-19. Among medical students, the corresponding proportions were 772 participants (66.4%), 855 participants (73.5%), 791 participants (68.1%), and 791 participants (68.1%), respectively. Among nonmedical students, 223 participants (46.0%) had N95 masks available, 429 participants (88.5%) had disinfectant supplies available, 271 participants (55.9%) wore goggles in public places, 75 participants (15.5%) chose public transportation, and 77 participants (15.9%) were exposed to public places in the week prior to the survey. Among medical students, the corresponding proportions were 470 participants (40.4%), 935 participants (80.4%), 575 participants (49.4%), 243 participants (20.9%), and 297 participants (25.5%), respectively. Furthermore, COVID-19 had a stronger effect on medical students' psychology and job-search ambitions. Conclusions: The news about COVID-19 piqued the interest of medical students. Nonmedical students had stronger protective behavior than medical students. The COVID-19 outbreak had a significant influence on medical students' lives, studies, and moods. In addition, COVID-19 had a greater impact on the job-search intentions of medical students.