Perceived challenges and barriers for medical students in the COVID-19 crisis.

BACKGROUND: Unpredictable and immediate changes, especially in the clinical and practical fields of medical sciences following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) epidemic, have posed many challenges for medical students. This study was conducted to identify the experiences and students' understanding of the challenges in the COVID-19 crisis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present qualitative research was conducted by performing semi-structured interviews with the students along with holding a student panel. The study population consisted of 30 clinical and basic medical students of Babol, Iran and Kermanshah universities of medical sciences who were selected by purposive sampling method. Data were collected based on students' perceived experiences of challenges, obstacles, and problems in the COVID-19 crisis. The data analysis process was performed by conducting interviews and information obtained from the panel using v10 R150410 software. Finally, the related factors and components were identified. RESULTS: Challenges and perceived obstacles of medical students in the COVID-19 crisis were identified in the form of eight factors including student life factors, interaction and communication, psychological factors, educational technology, factors related to the professors, limitations of educational and research planning, crisis management, and educational evaluation. CONCLUSION: Identifying the challenges of medical education perceived by students in this study and adopting appropriate strategies to overcome existing barriers open new opportunities for expanding the scope of the curriculum, providing education, and promoting community health to universities; moreover, the challenges of medical education and any skill-based discipline, such as medical sciences in the COVID-19 pandemic will require much attention and investigation in cognitive sciences.

Domestic Violence Against Women During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Its Relationship to Demographic and Family Factors: A Cross-Sectional Study in Iran.

BACKGROUND: During the COVID-19 pandemic, we have witnessed increased complaints from third parties about violent conditions through social media. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of domestic violence (DV) against women following exposure to the COVID-19 pandemic and its relevance to some related factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was conducted from July 2020 to May 2021 on married women of Babol, Iran. Eligible women entered into the study in a multi-stage cluster random sampling method. Data collection tools included demographic and family data, questionnaire HITS (Hurt, Insult, Threaten and Scream). Relationships were estimated using the Univariate and multivariate regression models.  Results: The mean age of 488 women and their spouses was 34.62 ± 9.14 and 38.74 ± 9.07, respectively. Of the total female participants, 37 (7.6%), 68 (13.9%), and 21 (4.3%) were victims of total violence, verbal abuse, and physical violence, respectively. Ninety-five women (19.5) had a history of coronavirus infection. Women who were satisfied with their income and husbands were university educated, their chances of DV were reduced by 72% (95% CI (0.09-0.85), OR = 0.28) and 67% (95% CI (0.11-0.92), OR = 0.33) respectively. Drug abuse by husbands increased the likelihood of DV by up to 4 times (OR = 4.00), and more contact with their husbands at home due to home quarantine was more than twice as likely to have DV (OR = 2.64).  Conclusion: Since the level of domestic violence was lower than before the coronavirus pandemic, it seems that most Iranian women were more under the support of their husbands during the coronavirus pandemic to endure the fear and panic caused by the pandemic. Women whose husbands had a university education and sufficient income had less domestic violence.