ORIGINAL PAPER
Medical students in the face of SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: an estimated risk of infection and the need for social support
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Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Katowice, Poland
(Department of Psychology, Department of Social Science and Humanities, School of Health Sciences in Katowice)
Online publication date: 2022-05-30
Corresponding author
Anna Daniel-Sielańczyk
Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Department of Psychology, Department of Social Science and Humanities,
School of Health Sciences in Katowice, Medyków 12, 40-752 Katowice, Poland
Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2022;35(4):473-84
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ABSTRACT
Objectives: A pandemic triggers certain attitudes and behaviors, resulting in the need for adequate social support. The aim of the study was to determine
the factors influencing the estimated risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and to assess the need for social support in a group of medical students. Material and Methods: The survey was conducted among 981 people, including 814 women and 167 men. For this purpose, a self-assessment
survey with 22 multiple-choice questions was used. The online survey was conducted on March 20–April 2, 2020, which can be considered as
the first stage of the pandemic in Poland. Results: The tested model for the subjective SARS-CoV-2 infection risk assessment explained 32.6% of
the dependent variable variance (F(7.945) = 66.61, p < 0.001). The model for adherence to the recommendations for reducing the risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission explained 9.5% of the variability (F(8.943) = 12.39, p < 0.001), and the model for an increased need for social support due to
the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic explained 27.4% of the variability (χ2(8) = 12.17, p = 0.144). Conclusions: Factors important for estimating the risk of
SARS-CoV-2 infection and the need for social support in the group of medical students were determined. The subjective assessment of the stress
level, infection symptoms experienced and the field of study proved to be crucial. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2022;35(4):473–84