Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Medical Students’ Work Culture: A Mixed Method Study

Abstract

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. The present study examined the pandemic’s impact on French medical students’ perceptions of their profession. Methods: A questionnaire study based on the vignette methodology was conducted among third-year medical students. 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. Overall, the pandemic had a profound and far-reaching impact on medical students in France, but these effects were not uniform. 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.