How can we help? Medical students' views on their role in the COVID-19 pandemic

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a sharp rise in demand for healthcare workers worldwide. This has been coupled with reduced numbers of available medical professionals due to confirmed or suspected infections with SARS-CoV-2. To counteract these shortages, governments of several countries have considered the enrolment of medical students into the workforce in order to help to tackle the ongoing crisis.

Questionnaire-based study assessing the perceived role of medical students in assisting in the COVID-19 pandemic. The primary aim was to determine factors contributing to the willingness of medical students to actively assist in the pandemic. The secondary aim was to evaluate their perspectives regarding the associated changes in medical education.

Out of 760 responses, 71.18% of medical students were willing to assist the medical workforce during the pandemic. Clinical year students were more likely to help in a medical capacity than pre-clinical students (OR = 0.384, 95%CI [0.167, 0.883, P < 0.05)]. Respondents concerned about their own well-being were less likely to engage in clinical work (OR = 0.680, 95%CI [0.491, 0.941], P < 0.020). Students who agreed that online lectures will negatively impact their education were inclined to think that the academic year should be extended (95%CI [0.065, 0.271], P = 0.001).

Most students are willing to help in both a medical and non-medical capacity. Their primary concerns when working in a medical setting are the risk of infecting their relatives and patients, lack of protective equipment and necessary knowledge as well as legal uncertainty whilst working without a medical qualification.