ABSTRACT
Background: The outbreak of COVID-19 was an unprecedented health emergency, which affected everyone, including the medical students. We aimed to investigate the influence of COVID-19 on professional identity and career planning of clinical medical undergraduates, and propose strategies. Method: A cross-section survey was conducted via online questionnaire from January to March 2021 on clinical medical undergraduates in Hebei province. We collected the demographic information, the understanding status of the epidemic, the change of the attitude to professional identity and career planning after the epidemic. McNemar Tests were used to evaluate corresponding information. Findings: In 2754 respondents, over 80% students were aware about the transmission, incubation period, source, and first consultation department of COVID-19; however, the number of students knowing the name of the pathogen and therapy of this disease relatively fewer. Overall, the pandemic had a positive impact on their professional identity and career planning (all P <0·05, compared with the status before the epidemic). And the number of students who chose the department of infectious disease and respiration as the favorite after COVID-19 increased (184 (6·68%), vs 99 (3·59%), P <0·001). The number of students being willing to choose the above two departments after COVID-19 increased (956 (34·72%), vs 773 (28·07%), P <0·001). Interpretation: Overall, the pandemic had a positive impact on the professional identity and career planning of the students, but the number of students being willing to choose the department of infectious disease and respiration was still extremely low. In the future education, further attention should be paid to the cultivation of interest in above departments and the spirit of dedication.Funding Statement: None.Declaration of Interests: All authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest.Ethics Approval Statement: The study was approved by the medical ethics committee of the Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University. (Number: K 2021 -002-1)