Advances in Medical Education and Practice (Jul 2024)
Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Performance of Undergraduate Healthcare Students During Their Internship in Saudi Arabia
Abstract
Ziyad F Al Nufaiei,1,2 Hassan Z Omar,1,2 Raed G Alghamdi,1,2 Saeed D Felemban,1,2 Raid M Al Zhranei,1,2 Maher Alsulami,2,3 Reem H Alluhibi,1,2 Waad A Alsulami,2,4 Majid S Al-Thaqafy,2,4– 6 Emad I Abdelrahman7 1Department of Respiratory Therapy, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; 2King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; 3Department of Emergency Medical Service, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; 4Research Unit, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; 5Department of Infection Prevention and Control, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; 6College of Medicine, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; 7Albayt Medical General Center, Mecca, Saudi ArabiaCorrespondence: Ziyad F Al Nufaiei, Department of Respiratory Therapy, College of Applied Medical Sciences-Jeddah, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Mail Code 6610, P.O.Box.9515, Jeddah, 21423, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Tel +966551600060 Ext 46125, Email [email protected]: The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease that has rapidly spread on a global scale. The entire world has fought tirelessly to combat this disease, which has had a significant impact on humanity. This study examines the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the performance of undergraduate healthcare students during internship, focusing on the leadership, social, and mental aspects.Methodology: A cross-sectional national survey was conducted among Saudi Arabia’s undergraduate health care students. From August to December of 2021, non-probability convenient sampling was employed in the study. Online-questionnaire was used to administer the three survey dimensions—mental health, social life, and leadership—as well as the demographic profiles. Correlation coefficients were utilized to establish a meaningful connection between the independent variables and the study’s domains. Moreover, the Kruskal–Wallis tests were employed to efficiently compare the medians among the independent groups.Results: Two hundred and forty-one undergraduate healthcare students from a variety of backgrounds participated in this study. Mental health issues such as difficulty relaxing and increased irritability were prominent. From a sociological perspective, the majority of participants expressed a strong desire for more social interaction. Lastly, most participants in the leadership domain revealed satisfaction with their professional relationships. However, 50.7% of respondents expressed dissatisfaction with their incentives.Conclusion: The study concludes that addressing problems in the mental, social, and leadership domains is crucial to enhancing the resilience and overall well-being of undergraduate healthcare students during their internships. Anxiety and stress emerged as the most prevalent factors affecting these students. However, the presence of a positive relationship with their supervisors, as well as the support provided by healthcare organizations, played a vital role in helping them overcome these challenges.Keywords: COVID-19, internship, psychological well-being, stress, mental health, social life, leadership
