Problems-Based Learning during COVID-19 Pandemic: Experiences by Nursing Students

Introduction: Problems-based learning (PBL) methodology seeks challenges in the daily life context, where students protagonise their own learning using new technologies as the ideal means to find updated and adequate information, for its processing and dissemination towards a better active and participative role. The aim was to analyze the usefulness and importance of PBL, as a strategy of significant learning in daily experiences of nursing students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: The study was qualitative and phenomenological, with 15 informant students of the Module “Attention to addictions in the health area” aged 20 - 25 years, enrolled in the sixth semester of nursing from a public university. Data were collected through oral testimonies, texts, and semi-structured interviews of relevant aspects to them in their everyday life facing the COVID-19 pandemic, telling their experiences. Students signed an informed consent, and the qualitative analysis followed De Souza Minayo. Results: Four categories emerged: Category 1. Students’ experiences along pandemic;1.1, Positive experiences;1.2, Negative experiences. Category 2. Students’ knowledge and abilities for self-care along pandemic. Category 3. Abilities to promote problem solving. Category 4. Impact and usefulness of PBL in students’ experiences for health education;4.1, Positive impact of PBL;4.2 Negative impact of PBL. Conclusion: PBL is very useful for significant learning. It opens knowledge, developing skills to face, support, debate, evaluate and make decisions;it does incorporate critical thinking and problem solving. PBL does encourage collaborative work.

COVID-19 Pandemic Impact on Mental Health in First Year Secondary School Students

Confinement was a helpful measure to avoid virus propagation, but social isolation and the massive closure of face-to face activities in educational institutions, impacted negatively in mental health of students, it increased stress and anxiety in adolescents, affecting their communication skills in this significant step of interpersonal relationships, and the search for their identity. The lockdown in addition to stress and anxiety triggered fear emotions, frustration, worrying and anger, as well as changes in driving energy, diminishing interest and desires. This work aimed to analyze the impact on mental health in first year secondary school adolescents after the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. Method: Qualitative and phenomenological research, 25 students of first year from a public secondary school of Mexico’s metropolitan area participated in the study;they were girls and boys 12 - 13 years old. Data collection was through a semi-structured interview, testimonials and anecdotes, in two hour sessions, along a week;research team recorded the interviews, testimonials and anecdotes. A signed informed consent was obtained from school authorities, parents and the assent of students. Obtained qualitative data were analyzed according to De Souza Minayo. Results: Four categories emerged with sub-categories. Category 1: Anxiety crisis, sub-categories 1.1. In overcrowded places, 1.2. To speak in public, 1.3. Facing interpersonal relationships with peers. Category 2: Impaired self-concept, sub-categories 2.1. Deficient self-perception, 2.2 Continuous disqualification and 2.3. Deficient personal objectivity. Category 3: Emotions handling, and sub-categories 3.1 Deficient identification of emotions, 3.2 Deficient handling of emotions, 3.3 Maximized emotions. Category 4: Coping strategies, and sub-categories 4.1 Deficient coping strategies, 4.2 Self-injuries, 4.3 Solitude. Conclusion: In early adolescence and in the post-pandemic context tools to face them are insufficient to develop social skills and coping strategies. Lockdown interrupted their socialization process, and their relationships with peers made them anxious and led them to risk behaviors. In this context alternatives to develop significant learning are needed, based on adolescents’ self-awareness highlighting adaptation, communication, emotional intelligence, creative problem solving and resilience skills.

Problem-Based Learning of Drug Use and Abuse during COVID-19 Contingency

Introduction: Nursing students’ experiences during the pandemic provoked social isolation, the way to learn and every context increasing their stress and anxiety leading to drug use and abuse, among others. Problem-based learning (PBL) is a pedagogic strategy to strengthen significant learning;then the objective was to establish PBL influence in nursing students’ experiences on drug use and abuse during COVID-19 contingency. Methods: Qualitative, phenomenological and descriptive paradigm, 12 female and male nursing students aged 20 - 24 years old from the 5th and 6th semesters participated. Information collection was through semi-structured interview and a deep one in four cases. A guide of questions about: How the pandemic impacted your life? How did you face it? And what did you learn during this process? Those questions were used. Qualitative data analysis was based on De Souza Minayo, and signed informed consent was obtained from participants. Results: Students’ experiences allowed four categories to emerge, with six sub-categories. Category I. Students’ experiences on drug use and abuse facing the sanitary contingency;Category II. Students’ skills development to identify a problem and design of appropriate solutions;Category III. Developing skills to favor interpersonal relationships;Category IV. Influence of PBL in nursing students’ experiences on drug use and abuse during the COVID-19 contingency. Conclusion: PBL favored analysis and thoughts in nursing students’ experiences on drug use and abuse during the COVID-19 contingency, they worked collaboratively, developed resilience to daily life situations, and implemented stress coping strategies with their significant learning, which diminished their risk behavior.