Adaramola OG, Idowu OM, Toriola OI, Olu-Festus DM, Oyebanji TE, Uche-Orji CI, Ogunnubi OP, Odukoya OO. Coping strategies of Nigerian medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ghana Med J 2022;
56:15-22. [PMID:
35919781 PMCID:
PMC9334952 DOI:
10.4314/gmj.v56i1.3]
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Abstract
Objective
This study assessed the coping strategies of Nigerian medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Design
We conducted an online descriptive cross-sectional study among medical and dental students attending three of the largest Colleges of Medicine in the Southwestern zone of Nigeria.
Settings
Our study involved students across the pre-clinical and clinical levels of the three Colleges of Medicine.
Participants
We selected the respondents through a purposive sampling technique and disseminated questionnaires applied using an online survey platform (Google forms https://forms.gle/19yfEzehJKwsme759). A total of 1010 participants out of 2404 eligible students completed the questionnaires accurately, giving a response rate of 42%.
Methods
The Brief-COPE questionnaire assessed the participants' coping strategies (approach and avoidant) during the COVID-19 pandemic. We conducted a bivariate analysis using the chi-square test and multiple regression analysis (p< 0.05) to determine the predictors of avoidant coping strategies.
Results
Respondents mean age was 21.8±2.9 years, results were presented as Odds Ratios(OR) at 95% confidence intervals(CI). About 95% of respondents employed an approach coping strategy, while the minority(5%) adopted an avoidant coping strategy. Females were three times more likely to employ an avoidant coping strategy (OR=3.32 (95% CI 1.67–6.21) compared to male students.
Conclusion
This study reveals that the majority of the respondents employed an approach coping strategy towards the COVID-19 pandemic. Females were more likely to employ an avoidant coping strategy. We recommend gender-specific programs to help medical students cope with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Funding
No External Funding
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