Gabriela Jimborean¹, Cristina Gârbovan², Delia-Liana Rachiș¹, Adriana Neagos³*, Tara Bigger⁴, Edith Simona Ianosi¹, Mioara Szatmary¹, Mara Vultur¹, Cristian Mircea Neagos⁵, Paraschiva Postolache⁶ and Hedy Katalin Sarkosy¹

¹Department of Pulmonology, George Emil Palade University of Medicine Pharmacy Science and Technology, Romania, Romania
²Department of Infectious Diseases, “George Emil Palade” University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology from Târgu Mureș, Romania
³Department of Otorhinolaryngology, “George Emil Palade” University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology from Târgu Mureș, Romania
⁴Student of VI-th year in General Medicine, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology from Târgu Mureș, Romania
⁵Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Emergency County Hospital of Targu Mures, Romania
⁶I^st Medical Department, Respiratory Rehabilitation Clinic Rehabilitation Clinic University of Medicine and Pharmacy Grigore T Popa Iasi, Romania

*Corresponding Author: Adriana Neagos, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, “George Emil Palade” University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology from Târgu Mureș, Romania.

Received: August 03, 2023; Published: October 31, 2023

Abstract

Background: A 2021-2022 retrospective study was conducted on 77 international students (Germany, Italy, Greece, New Zealand) and 76 Romanian (specialties: medicine, engineering, design, administration).

Methods: Our analysis considered the COVID-19 impact on students, knowledge, attitudes towards prevention, social life, and appreciation regarding online education. 

Results: Medical students had a higher vaccination rate than non-medical students (73,6% Romanians, 100% international students). Romanian students respected mask-wearing in crowded places more than international (68,4% vs. 51,9%) and medical students more than non-medical students. 66,6% of all students approved the online lectures, and 14,3% of the hybrid model. All students were affected emotionally during the pandemic (anxiety, sleep disturbance, decreased concentration capacity). Students spent much time during isolation on the phone (36% 3-5h, 54% >6h) and internet (44% 3-5h, 39% >6h) for socializing or information. Although insufficient, medical student's knowledge of the pandemic was significantly more significant than those of non-medical students. The pandemic generated positive and profound thoughts: appreciation of life and being in good health, spending more time with the family, and appreciation of the benefices of social interactions.

Conclusions. The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted students, frequently leading to anxiety, lifestyle changing, online learning (disliked by some students), and increased internet/phone use. The students do not respect the vaccination or compliance with the prophylaxis measures. However, compliance was increased among medical professionals and vaccinated people. Students' knowledge of the pandemic must be improved (higher among medical professionals). Knowledge about the pandemic was best acquired in academic courses for medical students. Compliance with preventive measures can be increased by intensifying information and medical education. The unique experience of the COVID pandemic also led to positive life lessons: valuing more life, health, family, and friends. The future needs a new strategy to improve university education under special conditions.

Keywords: COVID-19 Pandemic; Vaccination; Education

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Citation

Citation: Adriana Neagos., et al. “The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Medical (And Other Specialties) Students and their Attitude Toward Prevention Measures".Acta Scientific Otolaryngology 5.11 (2023): 36-46.

Copyright

Copyright: © 2023 Adriana Neagos., et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.