tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
BMC Psychol
. 2025 Oct 21;13(1):1162.
doi: 10.1186/s40359-025-03499-x. Qualitative investigation of academic routines and mental health among medical students following coronavirus vaccination
Soraia Nogueira Felix[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Anna Paula Lima Costa[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Juliana Matsumoto Andrade[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Aristides Tadeu Correia[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Fernanda Magalhães Arantes Costa[SUP] 5 6 [/SUP], Renata Kobayasi[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Maria Lúcia Bueno Garcia[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Denise Ballester[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Milton de Arruda Martins[SUP] 5 7 [/SUP], Patrícia Zen Tempski[SUP] 7 [/SUP], Iolanda de Fátima Lopes Calvo Tibério[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Beatriz Mangueira Saraiva Romanholo[SUP] 3 5 7 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Background: Despite being essential for protecting public health, the restrictions imposed during the coronavirus pandemic have negatively affected the physical and mental well-being of medical students. Furthermore, most students had negative perceptions of full-time online courses. The COVID-19 vaccine plays a vital role in preventing the collapse of healthcare systems and mitigating stress-related illnesses. The objective of this study was to explore medical students' self-reported feelings, symptoms, and daily routines across two key phases: the period of social isolation and the subsequent return to face-to-face learning after coronavirus vaccination.
Methods: A prospective qualitative study was conducted online with medical students in their 1st to 6th years at a university in São Paulo, Brazil, from 2020 to 2021 before and after in-person activities and coronavirus vaccination; focus groups and content analysis were used.
Results: In total, 200 students participated in the initial focus groups, whereas 60 participated in the follow-up sessions in groups of five to ten students. The discussions highlighted recurring negative emotions such as anxiety, depression, loneliness, sleep disorders and time management losses. Coping strategies were explored, and a return to in-person activities and vaccination were significant factors for improvement, particularly with the support of peers and faculty. However, challenges related to time management and sleep quality persist.
Conclusions: Negative feelings recurred in medical students' reports during social isolation. However, coping strategies have been cited. The return to in-person activities and coronavirus vaccination were positive factors in students' personal and academic routines. Despite this, most students reported changes in their physical, mental, or behavioral state.
Keywords: In-person activities; Medical students; Mental health; Online education; Social isolation; Vaccine.
. 2025 Oct 21;13(1):1162.
doi: 10.1186/s40359-025-03499-x. Qualitative investigation of academic routines and mental health among medical students following coronavirus vaccination
Soraia Nogueira Felix[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Anna Paula Lima Costa[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Juliana Matsumoto Andrade[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Aristides Tadeu Correia[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Fernanda Magalhães Arantes Costa[SUP] 5 6 [/SUP], Renata Kobayasi[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Maria Lúcia Bueno Garcia[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Denise Ballester[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Milton de Arruda Martins[SUP] 5 7 [/SUP], Patrícia Zen Tempski[SUP] 7 [/SUP], Iolanda de Fátima Lopes Calvo Tibério[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Beatriz Mangueira Saraiva Romanholo[SUP] 3 5 7 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 41121400
- PMCID: PMC12538937
- DOI: 10.1186/s40359-025-03499-x
Background: Despite being essential for protecting public health, the restrictions imposed during the coronavirus pandemic have negatively affected the physical and mental well-being of medical students. Furthermore, most students had negative perceptions of full-time online courses. The COVID-19 vaccine plays a vital role in preventing the collapse of healthcare systems and mitigating stress-related illnesses. The objective of this study was to explore medical students' self-reported feelings, symptoms, and daily routines across two key phases: the period of social isolation and the subsequent return to face-to-face learning after coronavirus vaccination.
Methods: A prospective qualitative study was conducted online with medical students in their 1st to 6th years at a university in São Paulo, Brazil, from 2020 to 2021 before and after in-person activities and coronavirus vaccination; focus groups and content analysis were used.
Results: In total, 200 students participated in the initial focus groups, whereas 60 participated in the follow-up sessions in groups of five to ten students. The discussions highlighted recurring negative emotions such as anxiety, depression, loneliness, sleep disorders and time management losses. Coping strategies were explored, and a return to in-person activities and vaccination were significant factors for improvement, particularly with the support of peers and faculty. However, challenges related to time management and sleep quality persist.
Conclusions: Negative feelings recurred in medical students' reports during social isolation. However, coping strategies have been cited. The return to in-person activities and coronavirus vaccination were positive factors in students' personal and academic routines. Despite this, most students reported changes in their physical, mental, or behavioral state.
Keywords: In-person activities; Medical students; Mental health; Online education; Social isolation; Vaccine.