Feelings Related to the Academic Path in Virtue of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Testimonies from Portuguese Higher Education Students Attending Healthcare Courses

Introduction: In Portugal, two periods of confinement were implemented due to the COVID-19 pandemic (i.e., March 2020, January 2021), and closing educational institutions was one containment measures adopted. Medical students felt impact these because healthcare education has a very high practical component in context clinical teaching: it is impossible teach disciplines via distance learning methodology. Aims: This study aims identify feelings related academic path higher attending courses as consequence confinement. Methods: The sample included 133 students, aged between 18 55 years, 77 (68.1%) female. qualitative cross-sectional using content analysis approach. measurement instrument an online questionnaire. Results: From results, demotivation, anxiety, insecurity fear being contaminated stand out most present reported student feelings. All new led shift mental health status, which currently classify negatively result all changes ex-perienced during this time. Most expressed negative resulting from pandemic, asserting that interfered with their way regarding health. Conclusions: decrease classes feeling patient care. It suggested university be monitored epidemics order try minimize impacts caused on