A descriptive study exploring the worldwide involvement of medical students in the COVID-19 pandemic

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has led healthcare systems worldwide to find themselves overburdened and understaffed. The aim of this study is to assess the roles assumed by medical students worldwide to provide insights during this pandemic but also for future global health emergencies. Methods: A global quantitative, descriptive study was held during April 2020 aiming to assess the different roles of medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data was collected through a pretested, self-administered questionnaire disseminated online on the social media platforms of the International Federation of Medical Students' Associations. Results: The questionnaire received 279 responses from 101 countries. Medical students played many roles, with raising awareness (20.3%), medical assistance (14.4%), and answering helplines (13.1%) being reported most often. 16.5% of medical students reported that their wellbeing was negatively impacted by the role that they played, which was most often reported when they played no active role. Conclusions: Our results confirm that medical students should be considered a key component of a nation's public health preparedness. Based on our results, medical students can and should play a role during the pandemic, but a strong ethical consideration of medical students' wellbeing and safety when designing their role for future crises is necessary.