Abstract:

Background:
COVID‐19 imposed drastic changes in the mode of teaching and learning across Australian Universities, where face‐to‐face teaching was abandoned and medical education shifted to the virtual mode. For The University of Queensland medical students this change impacted on their access to both clinical units and hospital wards. Due to sudden changes in the ways of learning and high workload, concerns were raised about students’ mental health and learning experience as the pandemic changed the way medical students interacted with their colleagues and friends, disrupting face to face interaction and on campus teaching.

Aims:
To introduce extra-curricular activities that promote creativity and empathy, relieve stress and allow medical students to collaborate and engage with peers and staff in order to build a sense of belonging in the community.

Methodology:
An online voting was organised for medical students with brief descriptions of various extracurricular activities asking for their preferences. Majority voted for a virtual Paint & Sip event. The event was then advertised on social media with a zoom link and students were provided with the painting materials (canvas, paint, and brushes). During the event we planned to facilitate ice breakers and easy conversation to provide the students with the chance to virtually meet each other while they all painted. Following the event, an online survey was done to evaluate the student experience and effectiveness of the extracurricular activities in the medical program.

Results:
Qualitative feedback showed that an art based program provided opportunities to explore their creativity, connect with peers, share their feelings and empathise with others: “I enjoyed the ‘liberty to showcase my perceptions and ideas’; ‘the fun to visualise and express myself in an imaginative way’; and ‘the feeling of relaxation using activities not related to medicine” were some of the students' comments. The majority of medical students agreed that introduction of extracurricular activities enhanced their mental well-being during times of isolation and, in turn, offered a rewarding student learning experience.

Discussion:
This study examines the importance of extracurricular activities as a way to foster wellbeing, promote student networking and provide a rewarding student experience in times of change. This project led to the creation of a host of extracurricular activities during the summer break aimed at medical students stranded at the University of Queensland, unable to travel home for Christmas and New Year. The study findings will also assist Universities to reimagine their traditional way of engaging students in demanding and extraordinary situations and re-evaluate extracurricular activities as a unique way of social learning that fosters an improved and gratifying student experience that will allow the future generation of medical students to enjoy medical profession.

Keywords:

Extracurricular, medical students, creativity, empathy, virtual.