Factors associated with low knowledge of biosafety in medical interns at a university in Peru in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic

Introduction: The right to pre-professional practices protected under Peruvian Law allows the student in the last year of the human medicine career to begin to participate in health care procedures and interventions under the guidance of a tutor. Objective: to determine the factors associated with low knowledge of biosafety in medical interns at a university in Peru in the context of the covid-19 pandemic. Methods: an observational, prolective and cross-sectional design was carried out. The sample consisted of 336 human medicine interns, who were selected by simple random probabilistic sampling. A valid and reliable instrument was used to determine the level of knowledge in biosafety. A bivariate and multiple logarithmic binary regression model was used to calculate the crude and adjusted prevalence ratio with their respective 95% confidence intervals for the factors associated with the level of knowledge in biosafety. Results: high, medium and low levels of knowledge of 44.6%, 26.8% and 28.6% respectively were found. Married marital status (RPA 0.418, 95% CI 0.181 – 0.968), living with people at risk for severe symptoms from covid-19 (RPA 0.472, 95% CI 0.344–0.647), undergoing medical internship in a hospital, and having been diagnosed by covid-19 in the last 12 months (RPA 0.586, 95% CI 0.387–0.887) were associated with a level of knowledge under biosafety by multiple logarithmic binary regression model. Discussion: married marital status, living with people at risk for severe symptoms of covid-19, undergoing medical internship in a hospital center and having been diagnosed with covid-19 have an inversely proportional relationship with low knowledge in biosafety. In medical interns in the context of the covid-19 pandemic. © 2022, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Santa Rosa del Aguaray Branch, National University of Asuncion. All rights reserved.

The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on medical students: A cross-sectional study

Background: The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has affected the medical education throughout the world. A study was done to assess the effect of education and psychological behavior on medical students. Aims and Objectives: The objective of the study is to evaluate the effect of COVID-19 on medical graduates in various aspects such as education, effect on clinical rotations, impact on the technology used for online classes, effect on quality of life, loneliness, sleep, and depressive symptoms. Material(s) and Method(s): A set of questions were distributed to Government Medical college, Suryapet students during November 2021-January 2022. Questionnaire aimed to study students' viewpoint of COVID-19's impact on their education, mental health, and willingness to participate clinically. Result(s): One hundred medical students from Government Medical College, Suryapet participated in this study. Most students (88%) agreed that pandemic had disrupted their medical education. About 64% agreed to attend clinical rotations and 68% of students accepting the risk of contracting COVID-19 in clinical rotations. COVID-19 had an impact on technology tools used for medical education. Students reported that COVID-19 had moderate impact on quality of life, sleep quality, anxiety, and depressive symptoms. Conclusion(s): The COVID-19 had an overall significant negative impact on undergraduate medical education. It is recommended that measures need to be taken to relieve students' stress.Copyright © 2023, Mr Bhawani Singh. All rights reserved.

Knowledge and Attitude towards COVID-19 Vaccine among Medical Students in a Tertiary Care Hospital, Visakhapatnam

Aim and Objectives: 1. Knowledge of the COVID 19 vaccine among medical students in a tertiary care hospital. 2. Attitude towards the COVID 19 vaccine among medical students in a tertiary care hospital. Methodology: Study Location: Tertiary care hospital facility in Visakhapatnam. Study Period: From August to September 2022 will be the study period. Study Sample Size: 316. Statistics: Data are gathered using google forms, and the spread document is error-checked. Calculations are made for descriptive numbers like frequency and percentage. Result(s): Sociodemographic details about the participants-There were 316 competitors in total. Men make up about 34.5% (n=109) of the members. Approximately 65.5% of the members (n=207) are female. About 40.5% (n=128) of the participants are first-year students, 39.25% (n=124) are second-year students, 14.5% (n=46) are third-year students, and 5.7% (n=18) are fourth-year students. Conclusion(s): The majority of medical students' responses to this research show moderate knowledge of and a favorable outlook towards the COVID 19 vaccine. It also demonstrates that medical students are more knowledgeable and have more optimistic dispositions. Our findings can be applied to interventions that promote public health, particularly for medical students. To dispel the medical students' fears and misunderstandings regarding the COVID 19 vaccine, there should be seminars, lectures, and instructional videos that are specifically aimed at them.Copyright © 2023, Dr. Yashwant Research Labs Pvt. Ltd. All rights reserved.

Effect of COVID-19 Pandemic on Awareness on Prevention of Spread of Infective Respiratory Secretions among Resident Doctors

Introduction: Respiratory infections including Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) infection spread through droplet infections. Hence standard precautionary measures like handwashing and use of masks are essential to prevent transmission of these infections in healthcare setting. Aim: To determine the effect of COVID-19 pandemic on awareness level of resident doctors on prevention of spread of infective respiratory secretions. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among two subsequent batches (year 2019-20 and 2020-21) of resident doctors at a medical college hospital, from February 2020 to September 2020. The 2019-2020 batch of resident doctors worked as residents from March 2019 to March 2020 and were considered as pre-COVID-19 batch. The 2020-2021 batch of resident doctors had their training period from April 2020 to April 2021 and were considered the COVID-19 batch. A pretested semi-structured questionnaire consisting of 14 questions to evaluate the awareness on prevention of spread of infective respiratory secretions was administered. The responses were evaluated, marks awarded and summated. Results: The response rate of pre-COVID-19 batch was 85% and that of COVID-19 batch was 86%. The mean (standard deviation) score obtained by the COVID-19 batch was 9.91 +/- 3.42 which was significant higher than that obtained by the pre-COVID-19 batch which was 7.1 +/- 1.83. The score obtained by COVID-19 batch for 11/14 questions was significantly higher compared to the pre-COVID-19 batch. Conclusion: A significant improvement was seen in the knowledge level in prevention of spread of infective respiratory secretions among resident doctors after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

TELEDIDACTIC MUSCULOSKELETAL ULTRASOUND COURSE AND COMPARISON WITH CONVENTIONAL ON-CAMPUS TRAINING – INTERIM ANALYSIS OF THE TELMUS STUDY

BackgroundMusculoskeletal ultrasound (MSUS) is increasingly gaining importance as an imaging tool in rheumatology. Most training programs currently address resident doctors. However, several studies have demonstrated that teaching MSUS to medical students improves their palpation skills and understanding of musculoskeletal anatomy. With the development of portable ultrasound devices, MSUS education is lately getting more flexible and location-independent. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic raised awareness of telemedicine training as a powerful tool to ensure the teaching of practical skills under pandemic conditions.ObjectivesThe purpose of our study is to establish a telemedical MSUS course for medical students and to compare its effectiveness with a conventional on-campus course as a world-wide pilot study. In doing so, we aim to expand student educational opportunities in MSUS using innovative teaching options while ensuring quality maintenance of teaching.MethodsThirty medical students were randomized to either a virtual group being delivered only telemedicine instructions, or an on-campus cohort receiving the course in a conventional format. Each student was provided with a handheld ultrasound device. Prior to the start of the course, the students' skills were assessed with an Objective Clinical Structured Examination (OSCE). During the course, a DEGUM-III-certified course instructor taught the basic physics of ultrasound and standard sections of the MUDE ultrasound protocol[1]. In order to quantify the students' learning progress, a second OSCE was carried out after completion of the course. [1].ResultsAt the time of this analysis, data collection within the on-campus course has already been completed, whereas the virtual course is still ongoing. While the average score of the students in the PRE-course OSCE was 21,02% (SD ±6,78), the students were able to achieve an average of 90% (SD ±6,81) in the POST-course OSCE after the intervention.ConclusionWith the results obtained so far, it can be shown that an innovative course concept with hand-held ultrasound devices, originally developed for dermatologists to improve the detection of psoriatic arthritis, can be used very well in student teaching without major modifications and leads to a significant increase in MSUS skills among medical students. The TELMUS study thereby offers a successful example of extending an existing course concept to student teaching and thus promoting the next generation of rheumatologists.Reference[1]Grobelski J, Recker F, Wilsmann- Theis D, et al. Etablierung und Validierung eines didaktischen muskuloskelettalen Ultraschallkurses für Dermatologen unter Verwendung eines innovativen Hand-Ultraschallsystems – die MUDE-Studie (Muskuloskelettaler Ultraschall für Dermatologen). J Deutsche Derma Gesell 2021;19:1753–60. doi:10.1111/ddg.14614_gFigure 1.Acknowledgements:NIL.Disclosure of InterestsNone Declared.

The Impact of SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic on Medical Students: Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices towards E-Learning: An Online Cross-Sectional Study in the Kurdistan Region, Iraq

Background. After COVID-19 emergence, medical education witnessed a shift from face-to-face education to digital education, which inevitably affected medical students. Globally, due to the closure of schools and universities, medical education was shifted to electronic learning (E-learning). This paper aimed to assess the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on medical education and determine medical students' knowledge, attitude, and practices towards E-learning in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.Materials and Methods. An online cross-sectional study was conducted among 500 undergraduate students of seven medical colleges in the Kurdistan Region, Iraq, in November 2021, to assess their state during the COVID-19 pandemic and how this affected their education.Results. There were 50.6% of males and 49.4% of females. The mean age was 20.6 ( +/- 1.5 SD) years. Approximately 17% of participants mentioned having financial issues, while 19.2% of students experienced health-related problems. As many as 67% of participants reported that the Internet quality was good or very good, whereas 46.8% of students disagreed that E-learning was a possible substitute for traditional learning. About two-thirds of participants agreed or were neutral that downloadable content was better than live content;however, only 19.2% of students agreed that E-learning could be used in the clinical aspect. A total of 52.2% of participants disagreed that E-testing could replace traditional learning methods. Surprisingly, 86.4% of students stated that they regularly used the Internet in their study.Conclusions. E-learning was the main adjustment made in the educational system, including medical education. The study concluded with insights into how different circumstances could have different conse-quences on the efficacy of medical education. E-learning showed effective results in continuing learning until the educational system switched to a blended system. Training programs for medical education personnel are vital in effective E-learning opportunities.

Distance Learning: Perceived Constraints Towards the New Norms in Learning Anatomy During COVID-19 Pandemic

Introduction: The unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic has led to unavoidable new norms, including increasing demands for online learning. In view of the potential constraints to virtually learn anatomy among medical students, this study was conducted to identify the level of exposure towards online anatomy learning as well as the perceived constraints among medical students in a public university in Malaysia. Methods: A cross sectional study utilizing online survey was conducted during the movement control order (MCO) enforcement in Malaysia between March and October 2020 among all consented medical students at a public university in the Klang Valley area. The data was collected using a validated self-administered questionnaire which was distributed using Google Form application. Results: A total of 281 medical students consented and completed the online survey, with 94.3% students had low level of exposure towards online anatomy learning. Year of study and accessibility towards computing facilities and internet connection were significantly associated with online anatomy learning, with the non-clinical students are 19.9 (aOR= 19.888, B=2.990, 95%CI: 2.484-159.220) times more likely to have higher exposure towards online anatomy learning respectively. Conclusion: A very high proportion of medical students having low exposure towards online anatomy learning was observed in this study, which was predicted among the clinical students. Strengthening the utilization of online learning should be seriously considered in parallel with the new norms and the many uncertainties with COVID-19 pandemic, to ensure continuity of effective and quality learning. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Malaysian Journal of Medicine & Health Sciences is the property of Universiti Putra Malaysia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)

COVID-19 IMPACT ON SECOND YEAR MEDICAL STUDENTS EXPERIENCE WITH INTERACTIVE PATIENT ENCOUNTERS AS A SUPPLEMENT TO TEACHING THE SKIN AND RHEUMATOLOGY COURSE

BackgroundThe use of interactive patient scenarios has long been a valuable component of medical school curricula, as this type of learning facilitates empathy, comprehensive understanding, and cultural sensitivity.[1] The COVID-19 pandemic, however, has precipitated a shift to more virtual strategies to keep students, faculty, and patients safe.[2]ObjectivesTo evaluate second year medical students' (MS2s) perceptions on the use of live patient encounters during the teaching of the skin and rheumatology course (BMS 6635) using different teaching formats due to changes from the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsFour to five patients with dermatologic, autoimmune, and musculoskeletal diseases volunteered to participate in an interactive teaching session with MS2s at the University of Central Florida College of Medicine. MS2s enrolled in BMS 6635 were asked to voluntarily complete a survey about their learning experiences using these patient cases. Students who did not respond to the survey were excluded. Data analysis using Chi Square testing was performed on survey responses obtained pre-pandemic as compared to those collected in academic years 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 during the COVID-19 pandemic.Results700 surveys were obtained after patient cases given in different formats. When the interactive patient cases were given in person before COVID-19, 93% of students enjoyed the cases and 95% of students believed that the cases were an appropriate learning experience in their education. When these cases were delivered virtually beginning in the academic year 2020-2021, however, students' enjoyment of these cases decreased to 86%, with 92% of students believing that the cases were an appropriate learning experience. This is a 7% and 9% decrease, respectively, from pre-pandemic years. During the academic year 2021-2022, use of a hybrid model, with students and faculty in-person and patients participating virtually, resulted in 81% of students enjoying the interactive patient cases and 83% of students believing that the cases were an appropriate learning experience. This was a 12% decrease from before the COVID-19 pandemic (p <.001) and a 5% and 9% decrease, respectively, from the previous year (p <.001) (Figure 1). 37% of students who had their cases in a completely virtual format preferred the interactive patient sessions to stay completely virtual, while 51% of students who participated in hybrid sessions during COVID-19 preferred the sessions to be completely virtual (p<.029) (Table 1).Table 1.Medical student survey responses comparing live patient encounters given in person, completely virtually, and a hybrid formatIn person pre-Covid (2016-2020)Completely virtual-Covid (2020-2021)Hybrid Format-Covid (2021-2022)Totalp-valueI enjoyed the Live Patient cases43993%9186%9881%628<.001*The Live Patient cases were an appropriate learning experience at this stage in my education44895%9792%10183%646<.001*The Live Patient cases helped me remember the diseases well for the exam9583%8075%8671%261.111Would you prefer the Live Patient sessions to be on Zoom?3937%6251%49.029** = Statistical significance defined as p<0.05Figure 1.Medical students' feedback on live patient cases given in different platforms before COVID-19 and during the COVID-19 pandemic.[Figure omitted. See PDF]ConclusionThe use of interactive patient cases in medical education has been met with positive feedback over the years and should continue to be used in medical education. This study showed that MS2s enjoyed the patient encounters more when delivered in-person vs a virtual or hybrid format. Careful consideration should be given to delivery format to optimize student learning and enjoyment.References[1] Spencer J, Blackmore D, Heard S, et al. Patient-oriented learning: a review of the role of the patient in the education of medical students. Med Educ. 2000;34(10):851-857. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2923.2000.00779.x.[2] Rose S. Medical Student Education in the Time of COVID-19. JAMA. 2020;323(21):2131-2132. doi: 10.1001/jama.2020.5227.Acknowledgements:NIL.Disclosure of I terestsNone Declared.

Evaluation of Prevalence and Associated Factors of Dry Eye Syndrome among Medical Students Exposed to Visual Display Terminal in Health Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia

Introduction: Dry eye syndrome (DES) has become a public health concern, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Medical students are at risk due to an increase in visual display terminal (VDT) exposure given the transition to full-time online lectures. The presence of reduced blink rate and tear film instability in VDT users causes an increase in tear evaporation leading to symptoms of DES. This study helps us to learn about the associated factors of VDT use and DES among the young generation. This study aims to determine the prevalence and associated factors of DES among medical students exposed to VDT at the health campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM). Methods: A cross-sectional study involving 140 undergraduate medical students aged 22 to 29 years old who were VDT users. Factors analysed are age, gender, race and duration of VDT usage. Data collection included both subjective assessment (OSDI questionnaire) and objective assessment (TBUT and Schirmer's test). Statistical analysis was conducted using Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS Inc Version 24). Results were analysed using descriptive analysis and multivariate logistic regression. Results: Most of the medical student cohort was female and Malay. Most of the students use VDT for less than 8 hours. A high incidence of DES was noted among medical students (92.1%). None of the factors showed significant association with positive findings DES by subjective and objective assessment and duration of VDT usage. Conclusion: DES is common among VDT users. This study showed a high prevalence of DES among medical students in USM. The factors analysed did not show a significant association between DES and duration of VDT usage. This study may help to recognize the problem and will raise awareness of their daily practice and implement preventive measures to avoid VDT-related DES. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Malaysian Journal of Medicine & Health Sciences is the property of Universiti Putra Malaysia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)

COVID-19 vaccine uptake among clinical medical students in Enugu, Nigeria

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic shook the world, claimed a lot of lives, incapacitated many, and forced majority of the world into a lockdown. Vaccination is the key strategy to tackling the virus. Objectives: To ascertain the level of vaccination and the difficulties associated with vaccination, among clinical medical students in Enugu, South-East Nigeria. Materials and Methods: A multistage sampling was used to select 160 respondents while questionnaires (hard and soft copy) were administered to the participants. The IBM Statistical Package for the Social Sciences was used for data entry and data analysis. Results: There was a poor (16.3%) knowledge, negative perception (66.3%), and poor uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine (20.6%). There were statistically significant relationships between vaccination status, knowledge of vaccine, age, and perception of the vaccine (P=0.000) as well as between level of training and vaccine perception (P=0.03). Conclusion: There was very low level of COVID-19 vaccination in the study population that may be attributable to the low knowledge of the vaccine and the high negative perception. The rush to development of the vaccine, possible side effects, and possible long-term complications may be contributory to the poor uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine among the study respondents.

Should China Expand Its Medical Education Scale? Evidence From Comparative Research

Purpose This study compares doctor staffing level and the scale of medical education in China with those of other countries and proposes policy recommendations for future adjustments to the scale of China's medical education. Design/Approach/Methods This study employs a literature review and descriptive analysis. Findings China had 1.98 medical doctors per 1,000 people in 2018, ranking 85th out of the 193 member-states of the World Health Organization (WHO). In 2017, China had 1.99 practicing doctors per 1,000 people, only ranking above Turkey (1.88) in Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries. China had only 10.28 medical graduates per 100,000 people—placing in the bottom third of OECD countries. China's provision of 1.4 medical schools per 10 million people was also significantly lower than the global average (3.9). However, the average number of students enrolled in medical schools (509) in China was significantly higher than the global average (160). Originality/Value Although the scale of admission in undergraduate medical education must be expanded in China, this needs to be achieved while controlling the average number of medical students per school and reducing enrollment in low-quality medical schools. Furthermore, it is necessary to establish new medical schools while improving the operating level of existing ones.

Methods of medical education used by medical personnel during the pandemic

For a better understanding of the COVID-19 pandemic impact over the medical education methods used by medical personnel, we have made a study using a standard form in which we have applied targeted questions regarding the methods used in medical education before and after the pandemic. This study followed the motivation and selection criteria of medical education forms before and after the pandemic, the advantages and disadvantages noed by attendees through onsite and online, also including suggestions for the future of medical education. The number of participans in online courses and the time assigned for online medical education has increased, compared to the period before pandemic. During the pandemic, has been recoreded a reorientation of participans on online platforms, following the utilization of those platforms which allow uploading files as well as free interaction between students and lecturer. The advantages and disadvantages, noted in medical personnel training, are counterbalanced in both of education online - onsite forms (exemple: the interaction with the lecturer and also between the students at medical meetings, has been the main advantage of medical education onsite and the major disadvantage of online education). The majority of study participants consider, for the futere, the combined use of both online and onsite professional training methods, and, therefore the participans can decide on what method of education should use.

Investigation on health and professional consciousness and mental health of military medical students during coronavirus disease 2019 epidemic.

Objective To understand the health and professional consciousness and mental health of military medical students during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic. Methods From Feb. 17 to Feb. 20, 2020, an electronic questionnaire was used to investigate the attitudes and coping styles of military medical students towards quarantine and delay of school opening, their attitudes towards online teaching, and health and professional consciousness during COVID-19 epidemic;and their mental health status was scored by symptom checklist 90 (SCL-90). Results A total of 2 736 valid questionnaires were collected. The students basically understood and agreed with the quarantine and delay of school opening during the epidemic, and 70.83% (1 938/2 736) supported online teaching. During the quarantine period, 85.31% (2 334/2 736) of the students chose to listen to music or watch TV series for relaxation, and 64.69% (1 770/2 736) insisted on learning, reading literatures or writing papers. Students could basically form the habits of washing hands frequently and wearing masks, and their consciousness of health protection was higher than that before the epidemic. For military medical students, their professional beliefs and determination have been strengthened during the epidemic, and many students wanted to join in the fight against the epidemic. The survey found that 12.94% (354/2 736) of the students had mental health symptoms, and the top 3 SCL-90 factors were obsessive-compulsive disorder (78.53%, 278/354), interpersonal sensitivity (64.12%, 227/354), and depression (44.07%, 156/354). Conclusion During the epidemic, military medical students can generally adapt to the difficult environment and improve themselves. The mental health problems of military medical students have their own characteristics, special attention must to be paid, and the humanistic education of medical students should be strengthened.Copyright © 2022, Second Military Medical University Press. All rights reserved.

The mediating role of psychological capital in the association between life satisfaction and depressive and anxiety symptoms among Chinese medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Although life satisfaction is a predictor of depressive and anxiety symptoms, the mechanisms underlying this association are poorly understood. This study examined how psychological capital (PsyCap), a positive psychological state, mediated the association between life satisfaction and depressive and anxiety symptoms among Chinese medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted at three medical universities in China. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to 583 students. Depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, life satisfaction, and PsyCap were measured anonymously. A hierarchical linear regression analysis was performed to explore the effects of life satisfaction on depressive and anxiety symptoms. Asymptotic and resampling strategies were used to examine how PsyCap mediates the association between life satisfaction and depressive and anxiety symptoms. RESULTS: Life satisfaction was positively associated with PsyCap and its four components. There were significant negative associations between life satisfaction, psychological capital, resilience, optimism, and depressive and anxiety symptoms among medical students. Self-efficacy was negatively associated with depressive and anxiety symptoms. Psychological capital (a×b = -0.3201, BCa 95% CI: -0.3899, -0.2446; a×b = -0.2749, BCa 95% CI: -0.3817, -0.1996), resilience (a×b = -0.2103, BCa 95% CI: -0.2727, -0.1580; a×b = -0.1871, BCa 95% CI: -0.2520, -0.1414), optimism (a×b = -0.2100, BCa 95% CI: -0.3388, -0.1150; a×b = -0.1998, BCa 95% CI: -0.3307, -0.0980), and self-efficacy (a×b = -0.0916, BCa 95% CI: 0.0048, 0.11629; a×b = 0.1352, BCa 95% CI: 0.0336, 0.2117) significantly mediated the association between life satisfaction and depressive and anxiety symptoms. LIMITATIONS: This was a cross-sectional study, and causal relationships between the variables could not be ascertained. Self-reported questionnaire instruments were used for data collection, which may have recall bias. CONCLUSIONS: Life satisfaction and PsyCap can be used as positive resources to reduce depressive and anxiety symptoms among third-year Chinese medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Psychological capital and its components (self-efficacy, resilience, and optimism) partially mediated the relationship between life satisfaction and depressive symptoms, and completely mediated the relationship between life satisfaction and anxiety symptoms. Therefore, improving life satisfaction and investing in psychological capital (especially self-efficacy, resilience, and optimism) should be included in the prevention and treatment of depressive and anxiety symptoms among third-year Chinese medical students. Additional attention is needed to pay for self-efficacy in such disadvantageous contexts.

Longitudinal changes in mental health among medical students in China during the COVID-19 epidemic: depression, anxiety and stress at 1-year follow -up.

This study aimed to evaluate the influence of COVID-19 on the mental health of Chinese medical students at 1-year of follow-up. From 2 February 2020 to 23 February 2021, we conducted three waves of research online (T1 = during outbreak, T2 = controlling period, T3 = 1 year after outbreak). The survey collected demographic data and several self reporting questionnaires to measure the depressive, anxiety and stress symptoms. A total of 4002 participants complete the whole research phases. The study major, grade level and gender were the main factors related to psychological distress caused by the COVID-19 crisis. Importantly, medical knowledge has a protective effect on medical students' psychological distress during the COVID-19 period.

An investigation into the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health and the study habits of medical students of the University of the West Indies.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused increased anxiety among medical students due to the uncertainty of the long-term effects on the future of medical education. There are currently insufficient studies aimed at investigating the changes in the mental health and studying habits of medical students during public health emergencies such as this pandemic, as well as methods that can be incorporated to appropriately manage anxiety effectively. To investigate the psychological impact and associated factors on medical students during the pandemic. This retrospective, cross-sectional study consisted of 291 medical students of the faculty of medical sciences at the university of the West Indies, St. Augustine campus, Trinidad and Tobago. The mental health and study habits of said students were assessed with the use of questionnaires via an online survey platform. Data of our study showed that 56% of the students were experiencing increased stress and anxiety. Students of 82.8% experienced irregular sleeping habits and 76.3% of participants experienced a change in eating habits brought on by the pandemic. Participants of 67.4% studied less than 4 hrs. a day, 61.5% were less productive, 62.2% showed an inability to focus and avoid distractions in their study environment during the COVID-19 pandemic. There is a need for proper supportive strategies to assist students in effectively managing anxiety and depression during public health emergencies such as COVID-19. It is suggested that all universities, colleges and education bodies alike implement a pandemic preparedness course as well as an accessible online support forum.

A Virtual Curriculum to Increase Exposure to Oncologic Subspecialties for Undergraduate Medical Students.

Medical student exposure to oncology is imperative given the prevalence of cancer, growing need for survivorship care, and ever-evolving therapies. Our institution offers a Cancer Care Elective for undergraduate medical students focused on clinical shadowing, but the COVID-19 pandemic necessitated completely redesigning a virtual alternative. In this study, we utilize a post-elective survey to 1) assess whether the novel virtual elective effectively promoted student learning and 2) identify which components were most impactful. We created an entirely virtual, semester-long course with structured mentorship, subspecialty panels, physician-led didactics, and patient exposure. Students attended multidisciplinary tumor boards and presented on oncologic topics. A post-elective survey assessed the course's impact on students' knowledge and the perceived value of each elective component. Of the 29 enrolled students, 12 responded to our survey (41%). Most students reported that the elective highly enhanced their understanding of medical (67%), surgical (75%), and pediatric (66%) oncology. The highest rated didactic involved patients discussing their cancer journeys, with 80% of students reporting that this session enhanced their understanding of patient-physician collaboration. Students reported that physician mentorship helped them better understand oncology (90%) and promoted interest in pursuing an oncologic career (100%). This study demonstrates that our virtual Cancer Care Elective was effective at increasing student understanding of oncology in practice. The results also suggest that patient exposure and physician mentorship are particularly educational and encouraging.

Sleep and Lifestyle Habits of Medical and Non-Medical Students during the COVID-19 Lockdown.

It has been shown that the measures of social distancing and lockdown might have had negative effects on the physical and mental health of the population. We aim to investigate the sleep and lifestyle habits as well as the mood of Croatian medical (MS) and non-medical students (NMS) during the COVID-19 lockdown. The cross-sectional study included 1163 students (21.6% male), whose lifestyle and sleep habits and mood before and during the lockdown were assessed with an online questionnaire. The shift towards later bedtimes was more pronounced among NMS (~65 min) compared to MS (~38 min), while the shift toward later wake-up times was similar in both MS (~111 min) and NMS (~112 min). All students reported more frequent difficulty in falling asleep, night-time awakenings and insomnia (p < 0.001) during lockdown. A higher proportion of MS reported being less tired and less anxious during lockdown compared to pre-lockdown (p < 0.001). Both student groups experienced unpleasant moods and were less content during lockdown compared to the pre-lockdown period (p < 0.001). Our results emphasize the need for the promotion of healthy habits in the youth population. However, the co-appearance of prolonged and delayed sleep times along with decreased tiredness and anxiety among MS during lockdown reveals their significant workload during pre-lockdown and that even subtle changes in their day schedule might contribute to the well-being of MS.

The effectiveness of disinfection protocols in medical school osteopathic manipulative medicine labs.

CONTEXT: In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare-associated infections have taken center stage. Healthcare has adjusted workflows to accommodate for more robust disinfecting regiments to help protect the community. This has resulted in the need for medical institutions to reevaluate the current disinfection protocols down to the student level. The osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM) laboratory provides an optimal avenue for assessing the effectiveness of medical students' ability to clean examination tables. With OMM laboratories having a high level of interaction, adequate disinfection is important for the health and safety of students and teaching faculties. OBJECTIVES: This study will evaluate the effectiveness of the current disinfection protocols in the medical school OMM labs. METHODS: A cross-sectional, nonrandomized study was performed on 20 OMM examination tables utilized for osteopathic training. Tables were chosen based on their close proximity to the podium. Close proximity was utilized as a criteria to increase the probability of utilization by students. The sampled tables were observed to ensure their use by students during class. Initial samples were collected in the morning after disinfection by Environmental Services. Terminal samples were collected after Osteopathic medical students utilized and disinfected the OMM examination tables. Samples were collected from the face-cradle and midtorso regions and analyzed utilizing adenosine triphosphate (ATP) bioluminescence assays with an AccuPoint Advanced HC Reader. This reader provides a digital readout of the quantity of light measured in relative light units (RLUs), which is directly correlated to the amount of ATP present in the sample, providing an estimated pathogen count. For statistical analysis, a Wilcoxon signed-rank test was utilized to find statistical differences in RLUs in samples after initial and terminal disinfection. RESULTS: The face cradle showed a 40 % increase in failure rate in samples after terminal disinfection when samples were compared after initial disinfection. A Wilcoxon signed-rank test revealed an estimated pathogen level for face cradle that was significantly higher after terminal disinfection (median, 4,295 RLUs; range, 2,269-12919 RLUs; n=20) compared to initial disinfection (median, 769 RLUs; range, 29-2,422 RLUs; n=20), z=-3.8, p=0.00008, with a large effect size, d=2.2. The midtorso region showed a 75 % increase in samples after terminal disinfection when samples were compared after initial disinfection. A Wilcoxon signed-rank test revealed that the estimated pathogen levels for midtorso were significantly higher after terminal disinfecting (median, 656 RLUs; range, 112-1,922 RLUs; n=20) compared to initial disinfecting (median, 128 RLUs; range, 1-335 RLUs; n=20), z=-3.9, p=0.00012, with a large effect size, d=1.8. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that medical students frequently failed to disinfect high-touch regions on examination tables, such as the midtorso and the face cradle. It is recommended that the current OMM lab disinfection protocol be modified to include the disinfection of high-touch regions in order to reduce the possibility of pathogen transmission. Further research should explore the effectiveness of disinfection protocols in clinical settings such as outpatient offices.

Community action projects: community-engaged quality improvement for medical students.

BACKGROUND: Healthcare Quality Improvement (QI) is an essential skill for medical students to acquire, although there is insufficient empirical research which suggests the best educational methods to do this. This study explored the experiences of medical students participating in two versions of a Community Action Project (CAP) which gave medical students the opportunity to learn QI skills in a community setting. The first version (GPCAP) was pre-pandemic where students identified and delivered QI projects on placement in general practice to improve local population health. The second version (Digi-CAP) ran remotely where students worked on QI projects identified by local voluntary sector organisations focused on local community priorities during COVID-19. METHODS: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with volunteers from the two cohorts of students who had taken part in quality improvement initiatives. Transcriptions were independently coded by two researchers and analysed through thematic analysis. RESULTS: Sixteen students were interviewed. Whilst students had mixed experiences of completing their CAP, engagement and successful learning was associated with the following themes from the two versions of QI CAP projects: finding a sense of purpose and meaning in QI projects; preparedness for responsibility and service-driven learning; the importance of having supportive partnerships throughout the project duration and making a sustainable difference. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: The study provides valuable insights into the design and implementation of these community-based QI projects, which enabled students to learn new and often hard to teach skills, whilst working on projects which have a sustainable impact on local community outcomes.