Effects of Participating in a Research Project During the COVID-19 Pandemic on Medical Students’ Educational Routines and Mental Health: Protocol for a Web-Based Survey Study
Authors: Calderaro Débora Cerqueira , Kahlow Barbara Stadler , Munhoz Gabriela Araújo , Dias Samuel Elias Basualto , Lopes João Vitor Ziroldo , Borges Aline Rizzo , Mariz Henrique De Ataíde , Gomes Kirla Wagner Poti , Valadares Lilian David De Azevedo , Araújo Nafice Costa , Ribeiro Sandra Lucia Euzébio , Kakehasi Adriana Maria , Reis Ana Paula Monteiro Gomides , Marques Cláudia , Reis-Neto Edgard Torres , Paiva Eduardo Dos Santos , Pileggi Gecilmara Salviato , Ferreira Gilda Aparecida , Provenza José Roberto , Mota Licia Maria Henrique , Xavier Ricardo Machado , Teodoro Maycoln Leôni Martins , Pinheiro Marcelo De Medeiros ,   The Voluntary Brazilian Society Of Rheumatology Task Force Against COVID-19
Published: March 2021

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in social isolation, which has a potential negative impact on the educational routines (eg, the suspension of face-to-face appointments) and mental health of medical students. The Mario Pinotti II (MPII) study is a 24-week observational study that conducted scheduled telephone calls every 2 weeks to verify the occurrence of COVID-19 in patients with rheumatic diseases on chronic hydroxychloroquine therapy (from March 29, 2020, to September 30, 2020). The effects of voluntarily participating in a research project (ie, one that involves interactions via telephone contact with patients, professors, rheumatologists, and colleagues) on the daily lives and mental health of medical students requires evaluation.

Objective

As medical students are professionals in training and have a high level of responsibility in terms of handling the emotional and physical aspects of several diseases, this study aims to evaluate the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and participation in the MPII study on the educational routines and mental health of medical students.

Methods

A web-based survey was carried out to perform a cross-sectional comparative assessment of medical students who participated in the MPII study and their colleagues who were not involved in the MPII study. Participants from both groups were matched based on sex, age, and medical school. The web questionnaire was developed by a panel composed of graduate medical students, rheumatologists, medical school professors, and a psychology professor. The questionnaire included details on demographic and life habits data and evaluated participants' impressions of the MPII study and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their educational routines and medical training. In addition, depression, anxiety, and stress were evaluated using the Brazilian version of the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS)-21, and currently, the DASS-21 scores are grouped as those that indicate a low, moderate, or high risk of mental distress. This project was approved by the Federal University of São Paulo Ethics Committee (CAAE: 34034620.0.0000.5505).

Results

Data were collected from both medical student groups from July 20 to August 31, 2020. Data extraction was completed in September 2020. The data analysis is ongoing. We expect the results to be published in the first semester of 2021.

Conclusions

This study will provide insight into the effects of participating in a research project on depression, anxiety, and stress, which will be determined by applying the DASS-21 to a large sample of Brazilian undergraduate medical students. We will also evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on medical students’ educational routines and medical training.

International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)

DERR1-10.2196/24617