Coping strategies of Nigerian medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic

• Published in: Ghana medical journal Vol. 56; no. 1; pp. 15 - 22
• Main Authors: G. Adaramola, OyinOluwa, M. Idowu, Oluwaseun, I. Toriola, Oluwanisola, M. Olu-Festus, Daniella, E. Oyebanji, Toluwanimi, I. Uche-Orji, Christabel, P. Ogunnubi, Oluseun, O. Odukoya, Oluwakemi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ghana Medical Association 31.03.2022
• Subjects: Original
• ISSN: 0016-9560; 2616-163X
• DOI: 10.4314/gmj.v56i1.3

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 par-ticipants 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.