Psychosocial Impact of COVID-19 Tests and Positive Results on Clinical Students Screened during the Second wave of COVID-19 Pandemic in Rivers State, Nigeria
Christie N. Mato
Faculty of Clinical Sciences (on Sabbatical), PAMO University of Medical Sciences, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.
Rex Friday Ogoronte A. Ijah *
Department of Surgery, PAMO University of Medical Sciences, Port Harcourt, and Consultant General Surgeon, Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, Rivers State, Nigeria.
Nkem M. Onodingene
Department of Hematology, PAMO University of Medical Sciences, Consultant Hematologist, Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.
Friday E. Aaron
Department of Surgery, PAMO University of Medical Sciences / Rivers State University, and Consultant Orthopedics & Trauma Surgeon, Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.
Golden Owhonda
Department of Chemical Pathology, PAMO University of Medical Sciences, and Consultant Chemical Pathologist, Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.
Michael I. Ogamba
Public Health & Disease Control Services, State Ministry of Health Rivers State, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Background: Destabilization of all educational activities, mixed impact on academic research and professional development, severe effect on the educational assessment system, and reduced employment opportunities, were some of the impacts recorded in the educational sector following the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of this study was to evaluate the psychosocial impact of COVD-19 and COVID-19 test and results on returning clinical students in a Private Medical University in Port Harcourt in the first quarter of year 2021.
Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among returning clinical students in a private medical university. Semi-structured questionnaire was used to obtain data from clinical students. Data was analysed using the IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20.0.
Results: A total of seventy-six (76) respondents who were medical students were involved in the study, with a 98.0% response rate. The impact of the pandemic was felt at home and in school. Study found that 49 students (64.5%) were dissatisfied with school work and twenty-two respondents (28.9%) were observed to be highly stressed while 9 students (11.8%) were observed to have no stress. The female respondents were more affected by the COVID-19 pandemic than their male colleagues.
Conclusion: Assessment of the impact of COVID-19 disease and testing revealed that undergraduate clinical students were affected psychosocially in the pandemic. Respondents were observed to be highly stressed, and a few indicated incapacitating psychological distress. Therefore, psychosocial support of students should be built into response measures for future screening services.
Keywords: COVID-19 disease and testing, psychosocial impact, clinical students, private university, Port Harcourt, Nigeria