Pandemics In the Media: Achieving Wellness Through Information & Resource Sharing

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic increased uncertainty and anxiety in the lives of medical students. It is difficult to remain updated with quality information about COVID-19. Moreover, unprecedented stresses threaten student wellness. Objectives: Create an initiative to investigate and analyze domestic and international information disseminated through the media, public health responses, and popular culture. Pilot wellness techniques to ease despair related to the quantity and quality of COVID-19 information. Methods and Materials: A comprehensive overview of COVID-19 global media coverage included news articles, journals, podcasts, and documentaries. An analysis of the information was discussed amongst the group. Global public health strategies to curb the spread of COVID-19 and their historical contexts were discussed. Coping strategies and wellness were addressed with fictional literature, opinion-editorial pieces, theological texts, and films with the aim of exploring emotional, intellectual, physical, social, spiritual, financial, and environmental wellness. Results: Students met weekly to discuss identified resources, and discern what COVID-19 information is helpful, accurate, and worth reading. After analysis, students compiled and disseminated a comprehensive list of COVID-19 and wellness resources to the health sciences community. Students who participated in this activity self-reported decreased stress, improved wellness, and a greater sense of being informed. Discussion and Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic has and continues to increase stress among medical students. This student led 4-week initiative helped decrease stress, improve wellness, and COVID-19 information dissemination. We strongly encourage other students and non-students to form a similar group to reduce the burden of researching COVID-19 updates, assessing information quality, and finding resources for wellness during these uncertain times