ABSTRACT
Introduction: The training medical students receive means they can be used as auxiliary healthcare staff during pandemics and disasters. During COVID-10, many medical students volunteered in healthcare settings in clinical and non-clinical capacities. While there has been research into students' perceptions of the pandemic and their role within the NHS, the perceptions of healthcare staff perceive this student response has not been explored. Methods: COVIDAssist is a survey based cross sectional observational study of medical student volunteering during COVID-19. The study consists of a cross sectional survey of doctors & nurses who worked alongside medical students in the NHS during the pandemic. We will use qualitative and quantitative methods to analyze responses. Results: The primary objective of the study is to assess how effective student response was in reducing the burden on healthcare teams during the pandemic. Secondary objectives are: to identify the broad specialty (e.g. medicine, surgery, primary care) and healthcare roles medical students were most beneficial) ;the GMC outcome-based skills students exhibited;the training provided to students before volunteering and what additional training could have been provided to students. Conclusion: The outcomes of this study will help inform current and future guidance on effective student deployment during pandemics and disasters. The results are also expected to provide insight into necessary training adaptations.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: COVID-19 led to global disruption of healthcare and many students volunteered to provide clinical support. Volunteering to work was a unique medical education opportunity;however, it is unknown whether this was a positive learning experience. Methods: The COVID Ready 2 study is a national cross-sectional study of all medical students at UK medical schools. We will compare opinions of those who did and did not volunteer to determine the educational benefit and issues they faced. We will use thematic analysis to identify themes in qualitative responses, in addition to quantitative analysis. Results: The primary objective is to explore the effect of volunteering during the pandemic on medical education in comparison to those who did not volunteer. Our secondary objectives are to identify: whether students would be willing to assume similar roles in a non-pandemic setting;if students found the experience more or less beneficial than traditional hospital placements and reasons for this;what the perceived benefits and disadvantages of volunteering were;the difference in perceived preparedness between students who did and did not volunteer for foundation training year one and the next academic year;training received by volunteers;and to explore issues associated with volunteering, including safety issues and issues with role and competence. Conclusions: We anticipate this study will help identify volunteer structures that have been beneficial for students, so that similar infrastructures can be used in the future;and help determine whether formal voluntary roles should be introduced into the non-pandemic medical curriculum.