Objectives: The aim of this ecological study was to investigate what the impact of digital learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic was on the burnout and the overall mental health (MH) of medical students. Background: During the unprecedent era of COVID-19 pandemic, the majority of countries worldwide adopted very strong measurements. The universities closed their doors and the education continued through digital learning lectures. Methods: : An anonymous questionnaire was administered to all 189 eligible candidates before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Mental health was assessed via the MH domain of the 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) and burnout with the Maslach Burnout Inventory – Student Survey (MBI-SS). Results: : Overall response rate was 81.5%. The overall burnout prevalence did not differ significantly between the two periods (pre COVID-19 18.1% vs COVID-19 18.2%). However, the burnout prevalence dropped significantly in year 4 (pre COVID-19 40.7% vs COVID-19 16.7%, p=0.011) whereas it increased significantly in year 6 (pre COVID-19 27.6% vs COVID-19 50%, p=0.01). When looking each MBI-SS dimension separately, we found that emotional exhaustion decreased significantly in year 4 but increased in year 6 and cynicism increased in all years. The overall MH deteriorated significantly between the two periods (pre COVID-19 58.8±21.6 vs COVID-19 48.3±23, p<0.001). Conclusions: : Digital learning in medical studies carries significant risks. Not only the MH deteriorates the cynicism levels increase. Emotional exhaustion increases particularly in final year students, who struggle with the lack of clinical experience just before they start working as qualified junior doctors.
Medical studies during the COVID-19 pandemic: the impact of digital learning on burnout and mental health