Long Covid - The Unseen Battle After The Virus.

WRITTEN BY G.A. RESHMI DILEKA CLASS OF 2025

The COVID-19 has left an indelible mark on society, but perhaps one of the most affected groups has been medical students. The COVID-19 pandemic has made a considerable consequence and the impact of it on medical students is profound and widespread by affecting their education, mental health, and as well as their daily routine. As future healthcare providers, they encountered atypical obstacles during the pandemic and continue to deal with, lingering effects of Long COVID. This article explores how the pandemic altered the medical students’ lives and the unseen battles they fight even now.

INTRODUCTION.

The COVID 19 pandemic was first reported in Wuhan, China in December 2019, and has rapidly spread all over the world in months. So, when the pandemic stuck in early 2020, medical students found themselves facing an unprecedented shift in their education as well as their daily routine. In the early days. education model quickly shifted from offline to online. While this shift aimed to ensure continuity in education, it also introduced a myriad of challenges.

LACK OF HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE

The rapid transiton to online learning coupled with the lack of preparation from the educational system, leads to have a great impact in student's academic performance and clinical exposure. In terms of clinical exposure, most students all over the world have been suspended from internships, while in some areas with staff storages they have the ability to continue clinical work. So almost all the students, struggled with the lack of hands-on experience, which is crucial in medical training. The absence of face-toface interactions with patients and instructors led to feeling of isolation and disconnection. So many struggling to gain the knowledge through the clinical exposure which they have been missed throughout the pandemic period.

MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES

The COVID 19 pandemic had led to severe education disruption mainly in the lives of medical students. The mental health of medical students took a significant hit during the pandemic. The pressure to excel in a demanding field, combined with the uncertainly of the virus, created a perfect storm of anxiety and stress. As the researchers have found that medical students are at high risk of anxiety and depression symptoms compared to general population and other students. The stigma surrounding mental health issues in the medical field made it difficult for students to seek help. Unfortunately, this has been a silent battle that many continue to face.

IMPORTANCE OF CONCENTRATION

Despite the challenges, many medical students demonstrated remarkable resilience. They created study groups online as they were unable to meet each other face to face, not only that but also, they created peer support networks and engaged in community health initiatives, such as volunteering at vaccination centers. These efforts not only helped them stay connected but also reinforced their commitment to serving others during a crisis.

The students used digital platforms and social media, by innovating the ways to adapt their learning and share resources and study materials. This adaptability emphasized their determination to succeed, and how they determined to overcome the struggle they have faced during the pandemic.

MOVING FORWARD

As we continue to navigate the aftermath of the pandemic, it is crucial to prioritize mental health support for medical students. Institutions must recognize long lasting effects of Long COVID and the stresses which was associated with clinical studies.

CONCLUSION

The journey of medical students during the pandemic indicates their remarkable resilience and perseverance. While the unseen battles of Long COVID persist. their experiences highlight the need for a more supportive and understanding educational environment.

 According to the results of the research projects, a year after the forced introduction of online learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic showed the stability of the burnout and mental health of students compared with the initial period of the pandemic. It also indicates that the support from medical school was negatively associated with the level of burnout and dissatisfaction with the new online learning format. And the same time, the perceived comfort of the new leaming format, loneliness and procrastination were positively associated with the level of burn out. And such deterioration in education caused by the pandemic, such as the possibility ~of mastering the necessary competencies, communication at various levels, and changes in the knowledge assessment system, were positively associated with the level of academic burnout, dissatisfaction with learning during the pandemic, and a general deterioration in medical education and learning efficiency.