Repercussions of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Well-being and Training of Medical Clerks: A Pan-Canadian Survey
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has been an unprecedented and potentially stressful event that inserted itself into the 2019-2020 Canadian medical curriculum. However, its impact on stress and subsequent professional pathways is not well understood. This study aims to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental well-being, training, and career choices of Canadian medical clerks within the first three months of the pandemic. It also aims to assess their use of university support systems and their appreciation of potential solutions to common academic stressors.
Methods: An electronic survey composed of four sections: demographics, stressors experienced during the pandemic, World Health Organization (WHO) well-being index, and stress management and resources was distributed to Canadian clerks.
Results: Clerks from 10 of the 17 Canadian medical faculties participated in this study (n=627). Forty-five percent of clerks reported higher levels of stress than usual; 22% reconsidered their residency choice; and 19% reconsidered medicine as a career. The factors that were most stressful among clerks were: the means of return to rotations; decreased opportunities to be productive in view of residency match; and taking the national licensing exam after the beginning of residency. The mean WHO well-being index was 14.8/25 ± 4.5, indicating a poor level of well-being among a considerable proportion of students. Clerks who reconsidered their residency choice or medicine as a career had lower mean WHO well-being indices. Most clerks agreed with the following suggested solutions: training sessions on the clinical management of COVID-19 cases; being allowed to submit fewer reference letters when applying to residency; and having protected time to study for their licensing exam during residency. Overall, clerks were less concerned with being infected during their rotations than with the impact of the pandemic on their future career and residency match.
Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic had a considerable impact on the medical curriculum and well-being of clerks. A number of student-identified solutions were proposed to reduce stress. The implementation of these solutions throughout the Canadian medical training system should be considered.
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4
This is a list of supplementary files associated with this preprint. Click to download.
Posted 25 Sep, 2020
On 27 Oct, 2020
On 07 Oct, 2020
On 28 Sep, 2020
On 27 Sep, 2020
On 24 Sep, 2020
On 11 Sep, 2020
Received 10 Sep, 2020
Received 07 Sep, 2020
On 21 Aug, 2020
Invitations sent on 18 Aug, 2020
On 18 Aug, 2020
On 27 Jul, 2020
On 27 Jul, 2020
On 26 Jul, 2020
On 26 Jul, 2020
Repercussions of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Well-being and Training of Medical Clerks: A Pan-Canadian Survey
Posted 25 Sep, 2020
On 27 Oct, 2020
On 07 Oct, 2020
On 28 Sep, 2020
On 27 Sep, 2020
On 24 Sep, 2020
On 11 Sep, 2020
Received 10 Sep, 2020
Received 07 Sep, 2020
On 21 Aug, 2020
Invitations sent on 18 Aug, 2020
On 18 Aug, 2020
On 27 Jul, 2020
On 27 Jul, 2020
On 26 Jul, 2020
On 26 Jul, 2020
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has been an unprecedented and potentially stressful event that inserted itself into the 2019-2020 Canadian medical curriculum. However, its impact on stress and subsequent professional pathways is not well understood. This study aims to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental well-being, training, and career choices of Canadian medical clerks within the first three months of the pandemic. It also aims to assess their use of university support systems and their appreciation of potential solutions to common academic stressors.
Methods: An electronic survey composed of four sections: demographics, stressors experienced during the pandemic, World Health Organization (WHO) well-being index, and stress management and resources was distributed to Canadian clerks.
Results: Clerks from 10 of the 17 Canadian medical faculties participated in this study (n=627). Forty-five percent of clerks reported higher levels of stress than usual; 22% reconsidered their residency choice; and 19% reconsidered medicine as a career. The factors that were most stressful among clerks were: the means of return to rotations; decreased opportunities to be productive in view of residency match; and taking the national licensing exam after the beginning of residency. The mean WHO well-being index was 14.8/25 ± 4.5, indicating a poor level of well-being among a considerable proportion of students. Clerks who reconsidered their residency choice or medicine as a career had lower mean WHO well-being indices. Most clerks agreed with the following suggested solutions: training sessions on the clinical management of COVID-19 cases; being allowed to submit fewer reference letters when applying to residency; and having protected time to study for their licensing exam during residency. Overall, clerks were less concerned with being infected during their rotations than with the impact of the pandemic on their future career and residency match.
Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic had a considerable impact on the medical curriculum and well-being of clerks. A number of student-identified solutions were proposed to reduce stress. The implementation of these solutions throughout the Canadian medical training system should be considered.
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4