Relationships between medical student wellness, self-efficacy, and academic performance during the “post-COVID” period

Abstract

This study was a part of a longitudinal study investigating the relationships between medical student wellness, self-efficacy, and performance. Eighty-two eligible students were asked to complete online surveys during their second (M2) and third (M3) years. Performance outcomes included scores on various summative assessments during the M.D. program. Wellness survey results indicated that the sample of 38 M2 and 28 M3 students were overall well and self-efficacious, and they broadly maintained similar wellness characteristics across their medical education despite COVID-19 disruptions. Twentythree students completed both surveys, and a paired analysis for this subgroup showed modest increases in stress and burnout in the M3 year. Notable correlations were observed between self-efficacy for academic work and a whole range of wellness variables for M2 students. M2 academic performance was modestly correlated to self-efficacy (rs = 0.38, P = 0.02, n = 38) and student burnout (rs = −0.34, P = 0.04, n = 38). In contrast, for the M3 students there was little correlation between wellness, clinical self-efficacy, and clinical performance, with the only significant relationships observed to be between overall clinical self-efficacy and the strength of social networks (rs = 0.41, P = 0.03, n = 28) and between scores for postencounter notes during Objective Structure Clinical Examinations (OSCEs) and self-efficacy in evidence-based medicine (rs = 0.44, P = 0.02, n = 28). In conclusion, 1) students remained generally well throughout the post-COVID period, and 2) self-efficacy for academic work is a good predictor of student wellness and performance during the preclerkship period but not during clinical training. NEW & NOTEWORTHY This study followed a group of medical students through the “post-COVID” period to assess their wellness as they transitioned from basic sciences to clinical training. We found that their wellness and belief in their ability to succeed (self-efficacy) remained strong, showing their resiliency. We observed correlations between self-efficacy and their level of wellness and academic performance during basic science classes but not during clinical training.