Insights into medical students’ perceptions of work culture during the COVID-19 pandemic: a mixed method study

Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic brought about profound social changes that affected students worldwide. These changes had both psychological and economic consequences, and also led to the adoption of new teaching methods. It can also have an impact on work culture, which is the collective...

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Main Authors: Stephane Mouchabac, Vladimir Adrien, Thomas Diot, Marie-Christine Renaud, Alain Carrié, Alexis Bourla, Florian Ferreri
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2024-01-01
Series:BMC Medical Education
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-023-04936-4
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author Stephane Mouchabac
Vladimir Adrien
Thomas Diot
Marie-Christine Renaud
Alain Carrié
Alexis Bourla
Florian Ferreri
author_facet Stephane Mouchabac
Vladimir Adrien
Thomas Diot
Marie-Christine Renaud
Alain Carrié
Alexis Bourla
Florian Ferreri
author_sort Stephane Mouchabac
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic brought about profound social changes that affected students worldwide. These changes had both psychological and economic consequences, and also led to the adoption of new teaching methods. It can also have an impact on work culture, which is the collective set of values, norms, and practices within a specific profession, shaping how individuals in that field behave, communicate, and identify with their work. The aim of the study was to examine medical students’ perception of professional culture during the COVID-19 crisis when they voluntarily participated in the healthcare network established, outside of university placements, for the management of COVID patients. Methods A questionnaire study based on the vignette methodology was conducted among third-year medical students. Drawing from three scenarios in which students were variably engaged in crisis management, it included questions about their perceptions of the medical profession, their motivation, and their sense of belonging to the profession. Results 352 students responded to the survey. The pandemic had both a positive and a negative impact on students’ perceptions of the medical profession. Cluster analysis using a k-means algorithm and principal component analysis revealed three clusters of students with different perceptions of the medical profession. The first cluster, which represented the majority of students, corresponded to a relatively positive perception of the profession that was reinforced during the pandemic. In the second cluster, students’ perceptions were reinforced still further, and particular importance was attached to field experience. Students in the third cluster had the most negative perceptions, having been shaken the most by the pandemic, and they attached little importance to field experience. Conclusions The analysis highlighted the importance of students being able to adapt and draw on a range of resources during the COVID-19 pandemic. This underscores the need for work cultures that support adaptability and coping. Further research is needed to understand its long-term effects on students’ perceptions of the medical profession and to identify interventions that could support students in the aftermath of this difficult period.
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spelling doaj.art-738df28af3564b759de0b65cedb461cb2024-01-07T12:30:54ZengBMCBMC Medical Education1472-69202024-01-0124111110.1186/s12909-023-04936-4Insights into medical students’ perceptions of work culture during the COVID-19 pandemic: a mixed method studyStephane Mouchabac0Vladimir Adrien1Thomas Diot2Marie-Christine Renaud3Alain Carrié4Alexis Bourla5Florian Ferreri6Department of Psychiatry, Saint-Antoine Hospital, Sorbonne University, AP-HPDepartment of Psychiatry, Saint-Antoine Hospital, Sorbonne University, AP-HPDepartment of Psychiatry, Saint-Antoine Hospital, Sorbonne University, AP-HPFaculty of Medicine, Sorbonne UniversityFaculty of Medicine, Sorbonne UniversityDepartment of Psychiatry, Saint-Antoine Hospital, Sorbonne University, AP-HPDepartment of Psychiatry, Saint-Antoine Hospital, Sorbonne University, AP-HPAbstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic brought about profound social changes that affected students worldwide. These changes had both psychological and economic consequences, and also led to the adoption of new teaching methods. It can also have an impact on work culture, which is the collective set of values, norms, and practices within a specific profession, shaping how individuals in that field behave, communicate, and identify with their work. The aim of the study was to examine medical students’ perception of professional culture during the COVID-19 crisis when they voluntarily participated in the healthcare network established, outside of university placements, for the management of COVID patients. Methods A questionnaire study based on the vignette methodology was conducted among third-year medical students. Drawing from three scenarios in which students were variably engaged in crisis management, it included questions about their perceptions of the medical profession, their motivation, and their sense of belonging to the profession. Results 352 students responded to the survey. The pandemic had both a positive and a negative impact on students’ perceptions of the medical profession. Cluster analysis using a k-means algorithm and principal component analysis revealed three clusters of students with different perceptions of the medical profession. The first cluster, which represented the majority of students, corresponded to a relatively positive perception of the profession that was reinforced during the pandemic. In the second cluster, students’ perceptions were reinforced still further, and particular importance was attached to field experience. Students in the third cluster had the most negative perceptions, having been shaken the most by the pandemic, and they attached little importance to field experience. Conclusions The analysis highlighted the importance of students being able to adapt and draw on a range of resources during the COVID-19 pandemic. This underscores the need for work cultures that support adaptability and coping. Further research is needed to understand its long-term effects on students’ perceptions of the medical profession and to identify interventions that could support students in the aftermath of this difficult period.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-023-04936-4Work cultureMedical studentsCOVID-19Professional identityCoping
spellingShingle Stephane Mouchabac
Vladimir Adrien
Thomas Diot
Marie-Christine Renaud
Alain Carrié
Alexis Bourla
Florian Ferreri
Insights into medical students’ perceptions of work culture during the COVID-19 pandemic: a mixed method study
BMC Medical Education
Work culture
Medical students
COVID-19
Professional identity
Coping
title Insights into medical students’ perceptions of work culture during the COVID-19 pandemic: a mixed method study
title_full Insights into medical students’ perceptions of work culture during the COVID-19 pandemic: a mixed method study
title_fullStr Insights into medical students’ perceptions of work culture during the COVID-19 pandemic: a mixed method study
title_full_unstemmed Insights into medical students’ perceptions of work culture during the COVID-19 pandemic: a mixed method study
title_short Insights into medical students’ perceptions of work culture during the COVID-19 pandemic: a mixed method study
title_sort insights into medical students perceptions of work culture during the covid 19 pandemic a mixed method study
topic Work culture
Medical students
COVID-19
Professional identity
Coping
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-023-04936-4
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