Undergraduate medical students participating as investigators in a rheumatologic longitudinal cohort during the Covid-19 pandemic: Impact on students' daily routine

ABSTRACT

Objectives: The engagement of undergraduate medical students (MS) in clinical research may lead to improvement in scientific method critical analysis, better performance as young physicians, awareness of innovation, and the development of leadership skills and teamwork perspectives (1). This study evaluated changings in daily routine and the awareness of patients' realities reported by MS participating on a research project involving rheumatic patients in Brazil during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A secondary analysis of a web-based cross-sectional survey (2) including MS participating of Mário Pinotti II study (MPII) (3) was performed. Demographic characterization and the description of the MS impressions of the impact of participating of MPII are reported. Results: A total of 228 (58%) MS involved in MPII responded to the survey 151 (66%) were women with (Mean(SD)) 22.8 (2.8) years of age, most were studying in public (N = 135 (59%)) medical schools, from 10 Brazilian states. Figures 1 and 2 summarizeMS' reports on the impact of participating of MPII on their daily routine and increased awareness of patient's realities. Conclusion: MS participating on the MPII study reported a better understanding of rheumatic patients' fears and uncertainties during the COVID-19 pandemic, including hydroxychloroquine shortage, lack of medical appointments and an unmet need related to more adequate information addressed to the rheumatic diseases. Furthermore, the close interaction among rheumatic patients, faculty, rheumatologists, and otherMShave provided a significant improvement in their feelings of usefulness during the pandemic and could contribute to their future professional activities.