O-46 The Impact of COVID-19 and Online Schooling on Medical Students’ Academic Performance and Mental-Health.
Author(s):
A Abdul-Hamid, C Buckradee, V Burrows, J Chan,
Type Of Study:
- Descriptive Study
- Observational Study
Year of Presentation:
2024
Objective: To assess and compare the impact of online-schooling on mental-health and its advantages and disadvantages on the academic-performance of medical-students across the year groups 2, 3 and 4.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study using convenience sample of 255 medical-students attending the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine across year 2 through 4 was conducted. Data collection involved distribution of an online questionnaire to participants which assessed the impact on academic performance and mental-health of the medical-students. Data analysis was done using IBM SPSS to record and analyse the findings.
Results: A total of 255 students completed the questionnaire. Females accounted for 57.6% of the sample, while 42.0% were male with a mean age of 23. Each year-group observed 33.3% participation for year 2, 3 and 4 respectively. Among reespondents, 51% reported improved grades during online-school. Compared to in-person classes, 40% reported lowered stress levels and 44.71% of students indicated experiencing depression, during online-schooling. Overall, 47.7% of students suggested that online-schooling was more negative compared to in-person.
Conclusion: Most participants reported improved academic performance when schooling virtually, but this was associated with a significant decline in mental-health . Despite the improved academic standing, participants described the overall online-schooling experience as more negative compared to in-person. Supplemental face-to-face classes were suggested to improve the online-schooling experience.