Student support systems for undergraduate medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic narrative review of the literature

Background The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has boosted medical students' vulnerability to various problems. Given the stressful nature of medical disciplines, considerable attention must be paid to student support systems during pandemics. This study aimed to review the current...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:BMC medical education 2021-06, Vol.21 (1), p.1-352, Article 352
Main Authors: Ardekani, Ali, Hosseini, Seyed Ali, Tabari, Parinaz, Rahimian, Zahra, Feili, Afrooz, Amini, Mitra, Mani, Arash
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Academic Achievement
Citations
Coronaviruses
COVID-19
Depression (Psychology)
Educational aspects
Epidemics
Group Activities
Information Seeking
Iran
Law Enforcement
Libraries
Literature reviews
Medical education
Medical students
Mental disorders
Mental Health
Mental health care
Mentoring
Mentors
Meta Analysis
Pandemics
Physical Health
Psychological aspects
School Health Services
Search Strategies
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
Social aspects
Social networks
Stress
Stress Management
Systematic review
Teaching Methods
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Summary:Background The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has boosted medical students' vulnerability to various problems. Given the stressful nature of medical disciplines, considerable attention must be paid to student support systems during pandemics. This study aimed to review the current literature regarding medical student support systems systematically. Methods We performed a systematic review of six databases and grey literature sources in addition to a hand search in the references of the articles on April 5, 2021. We included all studies about support for undergraduate medical students delivered in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In conducting this review, we used the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. Results A total of 3646 articles were retrieved from the databases, and 16 additional papers were extracted from other sources. After removing duplicates, we screened 2434 titles and abstracts according to our criteria. Among them, 32 full-text articles were assessed for eligibility. Ultimately, 10 studies were included for review. We identified two major themes: (a) academic support and (b) mental health support. All of the included studies utilized online methods whether for transitioning from previous support systems or developing novel approaches. Students and faculty members seemed to be receptive to these new systems. Despite indicating outstanding program outcomes, most studies merely described the positive effects of the program rather than providing a precise evaluation. Conclusion There are several methods of supporting medical students who are experiencing unprecedented changes in their educational trajectory. Due to substantial differences in undergraduate medical education in different regions of the world, cultural and contextual-oriented support is indispensable for developing a safe learning environment. Future research should investigate the question of the extent to which online support can supersede in-person strategies. Keywords: Medical education, Mentors, Mentoring, COVID-19, Medical students
ISSN:1472-6920
1472-6920
DOI:10.1186/s12909-021-02791-9