Coping Strategies for Medical Students During the Pandemic: A Nigerian Perspective
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5195/ijms.2021.720Keywords:
medical students, coping strategies, volunteering, social impactAbstract
The COVID-19 pandemic was an unexpected experience for medical students all over Nigeria. Many medical schools were forced to halt academic activities while a few private institutions continued using online sessions.
Medical school in Nigeria gives less time for medical students to pursue other extra-curricular activities and although COVID-19 has brought a lot of unprecedented times, medical students have utilized the opportunity positively by engaging in different activities while accessing a variety of opportunities. Prior to the pandemic, medical students are also known to spend lesser time for social interactions, personal and professional development. Since the lockdown led to the halt of academic activities including lectures and exams in most medical schools in Nigeria, students have more time to explore other activities.
Through constantly interacting with my medical colleagues all over Nigeria during the lockdowns, this experience provides a summary of the activities medical students have been engaging in during the lockdown to cope with the shocking changes.
Metrics
References
World Health Organization. WHO announces COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic. Available from: https://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/health-emergencies/coronavirus-covid-19/news/news/2020/3/who-announces-covid-19-outbreak-a-pandemic; Last updated March 3, 2020; cited July 28, 2020
Nigeria Centre for Disease Control. First Case of Corona Virus Disease Confirmed in Nigeria. Available from: https://ncdc.gov.ng/news/227/first-case-of-corona-virus-disease-confirmed-in–nigeria. Last updated Feb 28, 2020; cited December 28, 2020.
Azeezat. Adedigba. Coronavirus: NUC announces closure of Nigerian universities. Available from https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/382880-coronavirus-nuc-announces-closure-of-nigerian-universities.html. Last updated March 20, 2020; cited December 28, 2020
This Day. Lockdown Continues As Long As Necessary, Says Buhari. Available from: https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2020/04/12/lockdown-continues-as-long-as-necessary . Last updated April 12, 2020; cited July 27, 2020
Adebisi Y.A, Agboola. P, Okerede M. COVID-19 Pandemic: Medical and Pharmacy Education in Nigeria. Int J Med Students. 2020 May-Aug;8(2):162-4.
The Nation. Scheme Empowers Lagos Slums against Covid-19. Available from https://thenationonlineng.net/scheme-empowers-lagos-slums-against-covid-19/. Last updated May 24 2020; cited December 28, 2020
Mariam Ileyemi. Protostar Initiative Makes Mental Health Service Easier. Available from: https://www.yossyinfo.com/protostar-initiative-makes-mental-health-service-easier/. Last updated June 22, 2020; cited September 25, 2020.
Singh S, McCool J, Weller J, Woodward A. Medical Education in the 21st Century: Students Driving the Global Agenda. Educ Res Int. 2012;2012: 1–5.
Published
How to Cite
License
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- The Author retains copyright in the Work, where the term “Work” shall include all digital objects that may result in subsequent electronic publication or distribution.
- Upon acceptance of the Work, the author shall grant to the Publisher the right of first publication of the Work.
- The Author shall grant to the Publisher and its agents the nonexclusive perpetual right and license to publish, archive, and make accessible the Work in whole or in part in all forms of media now or hereafter known under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License or its equivalent, which, for the avoidance of doubt, allows others to copy, distribute, and transmit the Work under the following conditions:
- Attribution—other users must attribute the Work in the manner specified by the author as indicated on the journal Web site; with the understanding that the above condition can be waived with permission from the Author and that where the Work or any of its elements is in the public domain under applicable law, that status is in no way affected by the license.
- The Author is able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the nonexclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the Work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), as long as there is provided in the document an acknowledgment of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post online a prepublication manuscript (but not the Publisher’s final formatted PDF version of the Work) in institutional repositories or on their Websites prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work. Any such posting made before acceptance and publication of the Work shall be updated upon publication to include a reference to the Publisher-assigned DOI (Digital Object Identifier) and a link to the online abstract for the final published Work in the Journal.
- Upon Publisher’s request, the Author agrees to furnish promptly to Publisher, at the Author’s own expense, written evidence of the permissions, licenses, and consents for use of third-party material included within the Work, except as determined by Publisher to be covered by the principles of Fair Use.
- The Author represents and warrants that:
- the Work is the Author’s original work;
- the Author has not transferred, and will not transfer, exclusive rights in the Work to any third party;
- the Work is not pending review or under consideration by another publisher;
- the Work has not previously been published;
- the Work contains no misrepresentation or infringement of the Work or property of other authors or third parties; and
- the Work contains no libel, invasion of privacy, or other unlawful matter.
- The Author agrees to indemnify and hold Publisher harmless from the Author’s breach of the representations and warranties contained in Paragraph 6 above, as well as any claim or proceeding relating to Publisher’s use and publication of any content contained in the Work, including third-party content.
Enforcement of copyright
The IJMS takes the protection of copyright very seriously.
If the IJMS discovers that you have used its copyright materials in contravention of the license above, the IJMS may bring legal proceedings against you seeking reparation and an injunction to stop you using those materials. You could also be ordered to pay legal costs.
If you become aware of any use of the IJMS' copyright materials that contravenes or may contravene the license above, please report this by email to contact@ijms.org
Infringing material
If you become aware of any material on the website that you believe infringes your or any other person's copyright, please report this by email to contact@ijms.org
