Health Research and Education during and after the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Australian Clinician and Researcher Perspective

<b>Introduction:</b> The COVID-19 pandemic had an unprecedented global effect on teaching and education. This review discusses research, education and diagnostics from the perspectives of four academic clinicians and researchers across different facilities in Australia. <b>Material...

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Main Authors: Dennis J. Cordato, Kaneez Fatima Shad, Wissam Soubra, Roy G. Beran
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-01-01
Series:Diagnostics
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/13/2/289
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author Dennis J. Cordato
Kaneez Fatima Shad
Wissam Soubra
Roy G. Beran
author_facet Dennis J. Cordato
Kaneez Fatima Shad
Wissam Soubra
Roy G. Beran
author_sort Dennis J. Cordato
collection DOAJ
description <b>Introduction:</b> The COVID-19 pandemic had an unprecedented global effect on teaching and education. This review discusses research, education and diagnostics from the perspectives of four academic clinicians and researchers across different facilities in Australia. <b>Materials and methods:</b> The study adopted a literature review and an Australian researcher’s perspective on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on health education, research and diagnostics. <b>Results:</b> At the start of the pandemic, medical facilities had to adhere urgently to major work restrictions, including social distancing, mask-wearing rules and/or the closure of facilities to protect staff, students and patients from the risk of COVID-19 infection. Telemedicine and telehealth services were rapidly implemented and adapted to meet the needs of medical education, the teaching of students, trainee doctors, nursing and allied health staff and became a widely accepted norm. The impact on clinical research and education saw the closure of clinical trials and the implementation of new methods in the conducting of trials, including electronic consents, remote patient assessments and the ability to commence fully virtual clinical trials. Academic teaching adapted augmented reality and competency-based teaching to become important new modes of education delivery. Diagnostic services also required new policies and procedures to ensure the safety of personnel. <b>Conclusions:</b> As a by-product of the COVID-19 pandemic, traditional, face-to-face learning and clinical research were converted into online formats. An hybrid environment of traditional methods and novel technological tools has emerged in readiness for future pandemics that allows for virtual learning with concurrent recognition of the need to provide for interpersonal interactions.
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spelling doaj.art-40d19a9dcf76495a9259f97b57f8f2a72023-11-30T21:53:25ZengMDPI AGDiagnostics2075-44182023-01-0113228910.3390/diagnostics13020289Health Research and Education during and after the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Australian Clinician and Researcher PerspectiveDennis J. Cordato0Kaneez Fatima Shad1Wissam Soubra2Roy G. Beran3Department of Neurophysiology, Liverpool Hospital, Locked Bag 7103, Liverpool BC, Sydney, NSW 1871, AustraliaIngham Institute for Applied Medical Research, Campbell St Liverpool, Sydney, NSW 2170, AustraliaIngham Institute for Applied Medical Research, Campbell St Liverpool, Sydney, NSW 2170, AustraliaDepartment of Neurophysiology, Liverpool Hospital, Locked Bag 7103, Liverpool BC, Sydney, NSW 1871, Australia<b>Introduction:</b> The COVID-19 pandemic had an unprecedented global effect on teaching and education. This review discusses research, education and diagnostics from the perspectives of four academic clinicians and researchers across different facilities in Australia. <b>Materials and methods:</b> The study adopted a literature review and an Australian researcher’s perspective on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on health education, research and diagnostics. <b>Results:</b> At the start of the pandemic, medical facilities had to adhere urgently to major work restrictions, including social distancing, mask-wearing rules and/or the closure of facilities to protect staff, students and patients from the risk of COVID-19 infection. Telemedicine and telehealth services were rapidly implemented and adapted to meet the needs of medical education, the teaching of students, trainee doctors, nursing and allied health staff and became a widely accepted norm. The impact on clinical research and education saw the closure of clinical trials and the implementation of new methods in the conducting of trials, including electronic consents, remote patient assessments and the ability to commence fully virtual clinical trials. Academic teaching adapted augmented reality and competency-based teaching to become important new modes of education delivery. Diagnostic services also required new policies and procedures to ensure the safety of personnel. <b>Conclusions:</b> As a by-product of the COVID-19 pandemic, traditional, face-to-face learning and clinical research were converted into online formats. An hybrid environment of traditional methods and novel technological tools has emerged in readiness for future pandemics that allows for virtual learning with concurrent recognition of the need to provide for interpersonal interactions.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/13/2/289educationresearchadaptationmethodologytrialstelehealth
spellingShingle Dennis J. Cordato
Kaneez Fatima Shad
Wissam Soubra
Roy G. Beran
Health Research and Education during and after the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Australian Clinician and Researcher Perspective
Diagnostics
education
research
adaptation
methodology
trials
telehealth
title Health Research and Education during and after the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Australian Clinician and Researcher Perspective
title_full Health Research and Education during and after the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Australian Clinician and Researcher Perspective
title_fullStr Health Research and Education during and after the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Australian Clinician and Researcher Perspective
title_full_unstemmed Health Research and Education during and after the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Australian Clinician and Researcher Perspective
title_short Health Research and Education during and after the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Australian Clinician and Researcher Perspective
title_sort health research and education during and after the covid 19 pandemic an australian clinician and researcher perspective
topic education
research
adaptation
methodology
trials
telehealth
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/13/2/289
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