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Is online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic associated with increased burnout in medical learners?: A medical school's experience.
Hunt, Sarah; Simpson, Jenna; Letwin, Lyndon; MacLeod, Bryan.
  • Hunt S; Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM) University, Thunder Bay, ON, Canada.
  • Simpson J; Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM) University, Thunder Bay, ON, Canada.
  • Letwin L; Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM) University, Thunder Bay, ON, Canada.
  • MacLeod B; Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM) University, Thunder Bay, ON, Canada.
PLoS One ; 18(5): e0285402, 2023.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-2315506
ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION:

The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated a shift to virtual curriculum delivery at Canadian medical schools. At the NOSM University, some learners transitioned to entirely online learning, while others continued in-person, in-clinic learning. This study aimed to show that medical learners who transitioned to exclusively online learning exhibited higher levels of burnout compared to their peers who continued in-person, clinical learning. Analysis of factors that protect against burnout including resilience, mindfulness, and self-compassion exhibited by online and in-person learners at NOSM University during this curriculum shift were also explored.

METHODS:

As part of a pilot wellness initiative, a cross-sectional online survey-based study of learner wellness was conducted at NOSM University during the 2020-2021 academic year. Seventy-four learners responded. The survey utilized the Maslach Burnout Inventory, the Brief Resilience Scale, Cognitive and Affective Mindfulness Scale-Revised, and the Self-Compassion Scale-Short Form. T-tests were utilized to compare these parameters in those who studied exclusively online and those who continued learning in-person in a clinical setting.

RESULTS:

Medical learners who engaged in online learning exhibited significantly higher levels of burnout when compared with learners who continued in-person learning in a clinical setting, despite scoring equally on protective factors such as resilience, mindfulness, and self-compassion.

CONCLUSION:

The results discussed in this paper suggest that the increased time spent in a virtual learning environment during the COVID-19 pandemic might be associated with burnout among exclusively online learners, as compared to learners who were educated in clinical, in-person settings. Further inquiry should investigate causality and any protective factors that could mitigate negative effects of the virtual learning environment.
Subject(s)

Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Burnout, Professional / Education, Distance / COVID-19 Type of study: Etiology study / Observational study / Prognostic study / Qualitative research / Randomized controlled trials Limits: Humans Country/Region as subject: North America Language: English Journal: PLoS One Journal subject: Science / Medicine Year: 2023 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Journal.pone.0285402

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Burnout, Professional / Education, Distance / COVID-19 Type of study: Etiology study / Observational study / Prognostic study / Qualitative research / Randomized controlled trials Limits: Humans Country/Region as subject: North America Language: English Journal: PLoS One Journal subject: Science / Medicine Year: 2023 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Journal.pone.0285402