The Impact of Covid-19 Lockdown on Metamemory among Medical Students: An Experimental Study

Abstract

Background: The lockdown due to Covid-19 has impacted certain aspects of cognition among medical students. Aim: To explore the impact of the Covid-19 lockdown on metamemory among medical students studying in a private medical college in Pakistan. Study design: Experimental study. Methodology: This study with enrolled students (n=233) was carried out after ethical review committee’s (ERC) approval at CMH Kharian Medical College (CKMC), Physiology Department, Kharian-Pakistan. Both male and female medical students were enrolled. In phase 1, the students reported to the Physiology laboratory where age and gender were recorded. Metamemory was measured using the Multi-factorial Memory Questionnaire (MMQ) Satisfaction scale using the Baycrest Centre protocols for its administration and scoring. Data was analyzed by SPSS software, version 21. MMQ-Satisfaction score was presented as mean±SD. Statistical significance was taken at p value <0.05. Results: Among males mean±SD for Pre Covid-19 MMQ was 43.24±9.58 while mean±SD for Post Covid-19 MMQ males was 55.32±6.01. Significant difference was seen between Pre & Post Covid-19 MMQ scores with p-value of <0.000. Conclusion: We concluded that significant difference was seen between Pre & Post Covid-19 MMQ scores with p-value of <0.000. However, means among all age groups were significantly equal with the others in Pre & Post COVID-19 MMQ. Similarly, means were significantly equal among both genders for Pre & Post COVID 19 MMQ.