Survey of German medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic: attitudes toward volunteering versus compulsory service and associated factors

Abstract

Due to the spread of COVID-19, a key challenge was to reduce potential staff shortages in the healthcare sector. Besides recruiting retired healthcare workers, medical students were considered to support this task. Commitment of medical students in Germany during the COVID-19 pandemic was evaluated using an online survey, with particular focus on their burdens and anxieties. This survey was distributed to students within a 2-week period in April and May 2020. Ultimately, 1241 participants were included in the analysis. During the pandemic, 67.9% (65.3% to 70.5%) of the participants reported that they had volunteered. Furthermore, 88.9% (86.9% to 90.5%) stated that they were against compulsory recruitment in this context. Students who volunteered (committed students) had a significantly lower anxiety index than non-committed students. Additionally, students were more concerned about infecting other patients and relatives than themselves. Higher levels of anxiety were related to lower levels of commitment. A mandatory assignment during the pandemic was rejected by the students and does not seem to be necessary due to the large number of volunteers.

Health professional student’s volunteering activities during the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic literature review

“…A chain-mediation analysis of this phenomenon outlined four essential topics: altruistic motivation, prosocial encouragement, self-moral cognition, and reward ( 42 ). Included studies showed that in terms of gender, female students ( 21 , 24 , 39 , 43 , 44 ) were more likely to be involved in the pandemic control and volunteering than males ( 35 , 40 , 41 ), with a willingness proportion of 60.2% (female) vs. 52.3% (male).…”

“…Following the positive impression of volunteering activity, three studies found a high level of willingness (73.2–94%) among health professional students regarding participation in the future ( 7 , 49 , 53 ). Regarding mental issues associated with volunteering, four studies found that student volunteers had low psychological stress ( 40 , 44 , 51 , 55 ). The prevalence of anxiety and depression was lower among volunteering students than non-volunteering ones, indicating that it positively influenced general psychological wellbeing ( 40 , 51 ).…”

“…Fourteen studies (34.2%) found a willingness to volunteer ranging from 19.5 to 91.5% (32,36). However, the actual implementation of this willingness was only observed in a lesser proportion (6.5-67.9%) (25,(37)(38)(39)(40), and their readiness level was still low (18.6-58.6%) (32,38,41).…”

COVID-19 Pandemic Psychological Impact and Volunteering Experience Perceptions of Medical Students after 2 Years

“…In our sample, more than half of volunteering students feared getting infected before and during their volunteering tasks, and more than 70% feared infecting their relatives or friends. Mihatsch et al, and Zhang et al, also reported that students were more concerned about infecting other patients and relatives than themselves [ 14 , 15 ].…”

“…In the event of COVID-19 infection, 42% of medical students felt that they would recover without hospitalization [ 13 ]. Mihatsch et al, and Zhang et al, also reported that students were more concerned about infecting other patients and relatives than themselves [ 14 , 15 ].…”