Pandemic Pupils: Covid-19 and the Impact on Student Paramedics

Abstract

<jats:p>COVID-19 is having a profound effect on student paramedics. This commentary aims to explore and discuss how student paramedics have been affected by COVID -19 and seeks to identify the perceived impact of this experience.</jats:p>

A retrospective survey study of paramedic students’ exposure to SARS-CoV-2, participation in the COVID-19 pandemic response, and health-related quality of life

“…Unlike Australia, Norway’s Ministry for Education and Research made a formal decision to integrate healthcare students, including paramedics, in the broader national healthcare response [ 17 – 19 ]. We found that a total of 61 paramedic students (56%) at OsloMet participated in the national response during the first wave of the pandemic.…”

“…Following the shortage of healthcare workers in countries and regions that were hit hard early in the pandemic, such as northern Italy, discussions have taken place in several countries as to whether healthcare students, such as paramedics and nursing students, should take part in clinical work during times of crisis [ 14 , 15 ]. A large study from Canada demonstrated that 77.7% of university nursing students were willing to volunteer and work during a pandemic [ 16 ], and in Australia paramedic students expressed a willingness to participate in front-line clinical work during the COVID-19 pandemic [ 17 ]. Still, there is a scarcity of literature evaluating both willingness and involvement among paramedic students’ in public health emergencies [ 18 ].…”

“…In Australia, paramedic students were defined as non-essential staff, resulting in many students being faced with postponed clinical placements and delayed graduation [ 17 ]. During the first wave of the pandemic (spring of 2020) in Norway, the Norwegian government announced that all healthcare students could be enrolled in the national COVID-19 response plans to increase the number of healthcare workers available [ 19 ].…”

COVID-19 Salgını Sonrası Paramedik Öğrencilerinin Mesleğe Bakış Açılarının Belirlenmesi

“…(11). Öğrencilerin müfredatlarında COVID-19 gibi salgın hastalıklara yaklaşımlarına yer verilmesi öğrencilerin mesleğe başladığında salgına yönelik kaygı düzeylerini azaltması beklenmektedir (12). COVID -19 özellikle kronik hastaları daha fazla etkilediği ve mortalite ile sonuçlanabildiği için kronik hastalığı bulunan sağlık çalışanlarını daha fazla etkilenmektedir.…”

COVID-19 pandemic and clinical psychology placements: a provisional psychologist's perspective

“…These challenges, while unsettling for established staff members, differ from those experienced by those undertaking their clinical placements at the time of COVID-19. Although medical students [ 5 , 6 ] and paramedic students [ 7 ] have described the unique challenges faced by their disciplines, the perspectives of psychology trainees in a front line health setting have not yet been reported.…”