Psychological injuries of Guilan University of Medical Sciences students during the covid-۱۹ pandemic

Purpose: The prevalence of Covid-۱۹ is an unprecedented challenge for health education systems, especially medical students (nursing and medical). Our aim is to evaluate the psychological impact of this outbreak on nursing and medical students studying at Guilan University of Medical Sciences.Design: This analytical-cross-sectional study was carried out in a convenient form in the second half of the year ۲۰۲۱ on nursing and medical internship students. Methods: Data required were gathered by Demographic Questionnaire, online COVID-۱۹ Fear, and COVID-۱۹ Anxiety Tools. Data were analyzed by SPSS software (version ۱۶). The significance level of the tests was p˂۰.۰۵. Results: The mean total scores of fear and anxiety caused by COVID-۱۹ were ۱۴.۲۲±۴.۳۱ and ۸.۲۸±۶.۶۴. There was a positive and significant correlation between the fear score and the total score of anxiety caused by COVID-۱۹ (P=۰.۰۰۱, r=۰.۷۱۷); and a positive and significant correlation between fear scores and the score of the subscales of physical (P=۰.۰۰۱, r=۰.۵۲۱), and mental (P=۰.۰۰۱, r=۰.۷۱۷) anxiety. As well, there was a statistically significant relationship between the score of fear caused by COVID-۱۹ and the variables of the female gender, occupation as a student, and the history of the development of COVID-۱۹. There was a statistically significant relationship between the anxiety caused by COVID-۱۹ and the variables of the female gender, occupation as a student, and educational major. Conclusions: Findings indicated that nursing and medical students were exposed to mental health problems due to fear and anxiety from the pandemic, and should undergo periodic mental health evaluations.

Keywords:

COVID-۱۹ , pandemic , anxiety , fear , medical students , nursing students