Educational, psychosocial, and clinical impact of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic on medical students in the United States

Abstract

BACKGROUND The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic altered education, exams, and residency applications for United States medical students. AIM To determine the specific impact of the pandemic on US medical students and its correlation to their anxiety levels. METHODS An 81-question survey was distributed via email, Facebook and social media groups using REDCapTM. To investigate risk factors associated with elevated anxiety level, we dichotomized the 1-10 anxiety score into low (≤ 5) and high (≥ 6). This cut point represents the 25th percentile. There were 90 (29%) shown as low anxiety and 219 (71%) as high anxiety. For descriptive analyses, we used contingency tables by anxiety categories for categorical measurements with chi square test, or mean ± STD for continuous measurements followed by t-test or Wilcoxson rank sum test depending on data normality. Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator was used to select important predictors for the final multivariate model. Hierarchical Poisson regression model was used to fit the final multivariate model by considering the nested data structure of students clustered within State. RESULTS 397 medical students from 29 states were analyzed. Approximately half of respondents reported feeling depressed since the pandemic onset. 62% of participants rated 7 or higher out of 10 when asked about anxiety levels. Stressors correlated with higher anxiety scores included “concern about being unable to complete exams or rotations if contracting COVID-19” (RR 1.34; 95%CI: 1.05-1.72, P = 0.02) and the use of mental health services such as a “psychiatrist” (RR 1.18; 95%CI: 1.01-1.3, P = 0.04). However, those students living in cities that limited restaurant operations to exclusively takeout or delivery as the only measure of implementing social distancing (RR 0.64; 95%CI: 0.49-0.82, P < 0.01) and those who selected “does not apply” for financial assistance available if needed (RR 0.83; 95%CI: 0.66-0.98, P = 0.03) were less likely to have a high anxiety. CONCLUSION COVID-19 significantly impacted medical students in numerous ways. Medical student education and clinical readiness were reduced, and anxiety levels increased. It is vital that medical students receive support as they become physicians. Further research should be conducted on training medical students in telemedicine to better prepare students in the future for pandemic planning and virtual healthcare.