P-15 A Study aimed at Promoting Engagement of First-Year Medical Students in Post-COVID-19 Mental Health Initiatives Through Project-Based Learning at a Guyanese Tertiary Institution
Author(s):
A Hutson, O Vanlewin, L Harris, E Tyrell, J Hatton, C Abrams , B Ally-Charles , D Van-Veen , C Boston
Year of Presentation:
2025
Objective: This study aimed to assess the impact of projectbased learning (PBL) strategies on medical students’ skills
and preparedness for mental health outreach programs at the
University of Guyana, particularly in the context of the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods: A qualitative phenomenological approach was conducted during this study. Pre- and post-intervention semi- structured interviews were conducted with 10 volunteer students to capture their perceptions of traditional lecture-based learning versus PBL. The study involved analyzing the themes emerging from interviews to highlight changes in students’ perceptions regarding curriculum effectiveness, practical experience, and personal development related to mental health outreach activities.
Results: The analysis demonstrated students’ issues related to curriculum effectiveness and practical experience during the pre-intervention discussions. During the post-intervention analysis, the most important themes were changed to focus on collaborative methods of learning, personal growth, and the necessity of practical experience. With the restriction posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, students reported better knowledge of mental health and improved communication skills to resource scarcity and multi- method learning challenges.
Conclusion: The PBL approach positively influenced students’ engagement and skill acquisition for mental health outreach, indicating its effectiveness as an educational strategy. Adaptation of curricula with respect to practical engagements and group work remains a challenge to be addressed to improve the educational outcomes of health sciences learners as conditions of learning continue to change there. The study highlights the significance of learning such skills as collaborative efforts remain crucial with regard to medical education.