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Introduction: The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease that has rapidly spread on a global scale. The entire world has fought tirelessly to combat this disease, which has had a significant impact on humanity. This study examines the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the performance of undergraduate healthcare students during internship, focusing on the leadership, social, and mental aspects. Methodology: A cross-sectional national survey was conducted among Saudi Arabia's undergraduate health care students. From August to December of 2021, non-probability convenient sampling was employed in the study. Online-questionnaire was used to administer the three survey dimensions-mental health, social life, and leadership-as well as the demographic profiles. Correlation coefficients were utilized to establish a meaningful connection between the independent variables and the study's domains. Moreover, the Kruskal-Wallis tests were employed to efficiently compare the medians among the independent groups. Results: Two hundred and forty-one undergraduate healthcare students from a variety of backgrounds participated in this study. Mental health issues such as difficulty relaxing and increased irritability were prominent. From a sociological perspective, the majority of participants expressed a strong desire for more social interaction. Lastly, most participants in the leadership domain revealed satisfaction with their professional relationships. However, 50.7% of respondents expressed dissatisfaction with their incentives. Conclusion: The study concludes that addressing problems in the mental, social, and leadership domains is crucial to enhancing the resilience and overall well-being of undergraduate healthcare students during their internships. Anxiety and stress emerged as the most prevalent factors affecting these students. However, the presence of a positive relationship with their supervisors, as well as the support provided by healthcare organizations, played a vital role in helping them overcome these challenges.
RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Healthcare professionals have fought hard to restrain the COVID-19 pandemic by providing high-quality care for their infected patients, but in doing so they have developed fears of becoming sick and feelings of isolation and loneliness. The lived experience of respiratory therapists (RTs) in Saudi Arabia who works with these infected patients needs further investigation. The study sought to describe the experiences and coping strategies of Saudi RT managing patients with COVID-19. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study utilized qualitative research methods, specifically employing a phenomenological research design. A total of 25 Saudi RT (RTs) who were in direct contact with COVID-19 patients were selected after they agreed to participate in this study. The study followed a one-on-one semi-structured interview process using the Zoom platform. This qualitative data collection technique focuses on the participants' lived experiences and feelings to discover shared patterns. The data were analyzed via an inductive approach. RESULTS: Six themes were found in the RT perceptions including stress while treating COVID patients, managing the fear of catching of Covid 19, feelings towards COVID-19 patients, challenges faced by female RTs, workplace experiences, and excessive workload. CONCLUSIONS: RTs feelings dramatically changed throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. All the RTs have developed a self-copying style that has helped them improve their psychosocial behavior to face the pandemic. During the outbreak, frontline RTs' positive and negative emotions intertwined and coexisted. Negative emotions predominated in the beginning, while good feelings emerged gradually. Self-coping methods and psychosocial development were significant factors in RTs mental health while caring for COVID-19 patients.