Impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on trainees of the Women's Health Research Institute
COVID-19 has affected individuals and communities across our province and around the world. To better understand the direct and indirect impacts of the pandemic on students and trainees engaged in women’s health research across British Columbia, the Women’s Health Research Institute (WHRI) launched a trainee survey which ran from May to June 2020.
In total, 119 trainees completed the survey from across BC’s universities, a range of training programs, and fields of study.
some key findings of this study include
- 96% of trainees are worried about the overall impact
- COVID-19 has impacted trainees’ research progress. This includes 38.5% of trainees who reported that their ongoing graduate research has been “postponed, delayed, or cancelled.” Another 24.8% report that their planned graduate research has been “postponed, delayed, or cancelled.”
- Trainees are concerned about the impacts of COVID-19 on multiple aspects of their research training and job prospects. For instance:
- 45% of trainees are somewhat, very, or extremely concerned that they will not be able to complete data collection necessary to their thesis
- 76% of trainees are somewhat, very, or extremely concerned that they will not be able to present at conferences that have been delayed or postponed
- 65% of trainees are somewhat, very, or extremely concerned that they will not have prospects for a job in the near future
- During the time two weeks prior to completing the survey, 37% of trainees reported that they are finding it “a challenge to cope.” Only 17% are “coping very successfully.”
- Trainees with caregiving responsibilities described additional challenges coping with COVID-19 containment measures. As one trainee shared, “The biggest impact for me has been on childcare, and capacity to do anything else – both in terms of time but also energy.”
how can you generate awareness?
LOOK
At the survey findings, which have been summarized in the following five infographics:
LISTEN
To this episode of the @WomensResearch podcast featuring Dr. Angela Kaida in conversation with trainees Chenoa Cassidy-Matthews, Kalysha Closson, Kristina Jenei, Bethel Lulie, and Punit Virk about the impacts to education, mental health and wellbeing, and other issues faced by students during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- To this BC Women’s Hospital Research Rounds presentation by Dr. Angela Kaida where she presents the comprehensive survey results.
SHARE
.@WomensResearch has announced the results of their trainee survey! Learn more about the impact #COVID19 has made on BC’s women’s health trainees: https://ctt.ac/0u0f9+
Check out the latest episode of the @WomensResearch podcast! Dr. @akaida explores impacts to education, mental health + wellbeing, and other issues faced by students during the #COVID19 pandemic w/ @kalyshaanne @punit_virk @chenoa_marie @kjmeetswrld @bethelulie https://ctt.ac/4dpE3+
Nearly 75% of trainees reported feeling anxious or overwhelmed due to #COVID19 in a survey @WomensResearch conducted earlier this year. Learn more about their findings >> https://ctt.ac/f7aeu+ #AcademicTwitter
How can we better support trainees in our communities? @WomensResearch asked! Check out the results of their trainee survey https://ctt.ac/U34b2+ #AcademicChatter
How can we better support trainees in our communities? @WomensResearch asked! Check out the results of their trainee survey https://ctt.ac/U34b2+ #AcademicChatter
96% of trainees reported feeling worried about the overall impact of #COVID19 on their physical, mental, & professional well-being in a survey we conducted earlier this year. Learn more about @WomensResearch findings >> https://whri.org/our-research/covid19-trainee-survey/ #AcademicChatter