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Self-Reported Obsession Toward COVID-19 Preventive Measures Among Undergraduate Medical Students During the Early
Tariq N Al-Shatanawi1, Samir A Sakka2, Khalid A Kheirallah3
1Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Balqa Applied University, Al-Salt, Jordan.
Insights
Obsession with COVID-19 preventive measures was found in 6.8% of Jordanian medical students, particularly women. This psychological impact highlights the need for mental health support during pandemics.
Area of Science:
- Psychological impact of pandemics
- Medical education and student well-being
Background:
- The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and its control measures significantly affected medical, economic, social, and psychological aspects of life.
- Understanding the psychological toll on students is crucial for developing targeted support systems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the prevalence of obsession with COVID-19 preventive measures among undergraduate medical students in Jordan during the early pandemic phase.
- To identify demographic and academic factors associated with this obsessive behavior.
Main Methods:
- An online questionnaire survey was administered to 1,404 undergraduate medical students in Jordan between March 16-19, 2020.
- Data collected included socio-demographics, self-reported obsession with COVID-19 preventive measures, COVID-19 knowledge, risk perception, and adherence to precautionary measures.
- Statistical analyses included chi-square test, Student t-test, and one-way ANOVA to compare groups.
Main Results:
- A total of 1,404 students completed the survey (15.6% participation rate).
- 6.8% of participants reported obsession with COVID-19 preventive measures, significantly higher in women (9.2%) than men (3.3%) and those who attended COVID-19 lectures (9.5%).
- Obsessed students demonstrated higher COVID-19 knowledge and precautionary measure adherence; risk perception showed no significant difference.
Conclusions:
- Obsession with preventive measures represents a significant, often overlooked, psychological consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic among medical students.
- Medical institutions must implement strategies to address and manage the psychological effects of pandemics on their students.
Abstract:
Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and its associated precautionary measures have substantial impacts not only on the medical, economic, and social context but also on psychological health. This study aimed to assess the obsession toward COVID-19 preventive measures among undergraduate medical students during the early phase of the pandemic in Jordan. Methods: Online questionnaires were distributed between March 16, 2020 and March 19, 2020. Socio-demographic characteristics were collected, and self-reported obsession toward COVID-19 preventive measures was assessed using a single question.COVID-19 knowledge, risk perception, and precautionary measures were evaluated using scales. Using the chi-square test, Student t-test, and one-way ANOVA, we assessed the differences in the obsession of students with socio-demographic characteristics and scores of the scales. Results: A total of 1,404 participants (60% were female participants) completed the survey with a participation rate of 15.6%. Obsession with preventive measures was reported by 6.8%. Obsession was significantly more common among women (9.2%) than men (3.3%) and students who attended COVID-19 lectures (9.5%) than those who did not attend such lectures (5.8%) (p < 0.001 and p = 0.015, respectively). Obsessed participants reported significantly higher levels of COVID-19 knowledge (p = 0.012) and precautionary measures (p < 0.001). COVID-19 risk perception had a mild effect size difference but with no statistical significance (p = 0.075). There were no significant differences in the academic levels of participants (p = 0.791) and universities (p = 0.807) between students who were obsessed and those who were not. Conclusions: Obsession is one of the significant but unspoken psychological effects of COVID-19 precautionary measures among undergraduate medical students. Medical schools should be equipped with means to handle pandemic psychological effects.
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