TY - JOUR ID - 697489 TI - Insight into the impact of COVID-19 on Malta's future medical workforce - A Call to Action? JO - International Journal of Epidemiology and Health Sciences JA - IJEHS LA - en SN - AU - Cuschieri, Sarah AU - Grech, Elizabeth AD - University of Malta AD - University of Malta, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery Y1 - 2023 PY - 2023 VL - 4 IS - Continuous SP - EP - KW - Career choice KW - Covid-19 Pandemic KW - mental health KW - Medical education KW - Malta DO - 10.51757/IJEHS.4.2023.697489 N2 - Background: Medical research dynamics are complex, and stressors such as the COVID-19 pandemic make them even more so.Aims: The purpose of this article was to assess the impact of COVID-19 on medical students' willingness to become doctors and their goals. It also investigated how COVID-19 affects students' mental health and well-being.Methods: A literature-based anonymous online survey was created to assess students' future career goals, willingness to become doctors, and various aspects of their mental health. There was descriptive and univariate regression analysis.Results: Males enrolled in medical school at a higher rate than females. After the pandemic, a minority of students changed their initial specialty choice, but there was no statistical significance in their willingness to become a doctor (p =0.45). Only students who had long COVID-19 symptoms showed significant variation in their sleep patterns (p =0.01). Female students had significantly higher anxiety levels than male students, with 11.21% (CI95%:6.34 - 18.74) experiencing severe anxiety.Conclusion: Enrolling in medical school is a deeply personal decision that should not be taken lightly. Workplace conditions should be improved in order to attract the next generation of health-care providers. It is thus recommended that medical schools consider establishing a pre-entry course to inform and expose potential medical students to the working lives of doctors. All medical schools must ensure that mental and psychological support is easily accessible and non-stigmatizing. UR - https://www.ijehs.com/article_697489.html L1 - https://www.ijehs.com/article_697489_bb19d4ce028816b7fee7d7449ca0b1f8.pdf ER -