Application of the CONSORT Statement to a Randomized Trial of the Psychological Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Medical Students in Sudan

The following analysis relates to the article by Omer, Shareef, Al-Lahawi, Alhaj, and Mohammed (2021). This Randomized Clinical Trial (RCT) aimed to determine the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on medical students in Sudan (Omer et al., 2021).

Overall Strengths and Weaknesses

The data collected highlighted the pandemic’s effect on medical students’ mental health. There was an increase in medical students who suffered from anxiety and depression during the pandemic (Omer et al., 2021). The mode of data collection was highly susceptible to false information.             

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Reliability and Validity

Data was collected using an online Google survey questionnaire shared through social media such as Facebook, Telegram, and WhatsApp (Omer et al., 2021). This study was conducted at the peak of the covid 19 pandemic during the lockdown; therefore, an online questionnaire was a valid data collection method. Other data collection methods would have required the researchers to physically collect data from medical students, which would have promoted the spread of covid 19. DASS-21 scales used to determine the extent of anxiety and depression, and stress among medical students are reliable with strong internal consistency.

Participants were also encouraged to distribute the online questionnaire to their classmates and other medical students (Omer et al., 2021). This data collection method cannot connect with medical students who do not use social media. Although social media is a fast-growing internet space worldwide, many individuals still do not use or do not have access to these platforms. In addition, online questionnaires promote survey fraud. The respondents’ identities are anonymous; therefore, the researcher cannot be sure that every respondent is a medical student. Social media enables accessible communication between individuals in different countries; therefore, a respondent not in Sudan might have accessed and filled out the questionnaire. Lastly, respondents tend to give inaccurate responses, especially when the questionnaire is lengthy or confusing.

Ethics

The Institutional Review Board regulated the study, and informed consent was taken from all the respondents.

Topic Summary

The effect of covid 19 on mental health is an important topic whose results should be used to implement coping mechanisms for medical students. Although the number of infections and deaths caused by covid 19 is lower than when the study was conducted, there is still a significant number of infections recorded. The pandemic has increased the rates of mental and psychological disorders such as anxiety and depression (Mahgoub et al., 2021). Studies show that 80,000 youths experience mental health problems globally, with 20% suffering from anxiety and 25% suffering from depression (Office of the Surgeon General, 2021). Most medical students are youths and, therefore covered in these states

References                                               

Mahgoub, I. M., Abdelrahman, A., Abdallah, T. A., Mohamed Ahmed, K., Omer, M., Abdelrahman, E., & Salih, Z. (2021). Psychological effects of the COVID-19 pandemic: Perceived stress, anxiety, work-family imbalance, and coping strategies among healthcare professionals in Khartoum state hospitals, Sudan, 2021. Brain and Behavior, 11(8), e2318. https://doi.org/10.1002/brb3.2318

Office of the Surgeon General (OSG). (2021). Protecting Youth Mental Health: The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory [Internet]. Washington (D.C.): U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Retrieved 15 June from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK575984/