Undergraduate Skills Training in Pandemic Times: Where Is the Future of Medical Education?
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic forced medical programs to rapidly switch to remote teaching from scratch, impacting hands-on skills training. This study compared the efficacy of a hybrid online format to a regular in-person session for a mandatory surgical skills class. Methods: Third-year underg...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-07-01
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| Series: | European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2254-9625/13/7/90 |
| _version_ | 1797589561716506624 |
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| author | Andrzej Hecker Sebastian P. Nischwitz Johanna Petritsch Judith C. J. Holzer-Geissler Alexander Draschl Thomas Wegscheider David Benjamin Lumenta |
| author_facet | Andrzej Hecker Sebastian P. Nischwitz Johanna Petritsch Judith C. J. Holzer-Geissler Alexander Draschl Thomas Wegscheider David Benjamin Lumenta |
| author_sort | Andrzej Hecker |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: The COVID-19 pandemic forced medical programs to rapidly switch to remote teaching from scratch, impacting hands-on skills training. This study compared the efficacy of a hybrid online format to a regular in-person session for a mandatory surgical skills class. Methods: Third-year undergraduate medical students attending the surgical skills class in the winter semester of 2020/21 at the Medical University of Graz were randomly assigned to either the hybrid or in-person class, depending on their course schedule and government regulations. The hybrid class involved online videos, one-on-one peer tutoring, and an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE). Pre- and post-class self-assessments were conducted to evaluate their theoretical and practical knowledge of a single interrupted suture. Results: The study included 85 students in the regular in-person class and 50 in the hybrid class. A pre-class assessment revealed higher self-assessments in the hybrid class for theoretical and practical knowledge, but a post-class assessment showed no significant difference. The advantages and disadvantages of both modalities were identified, providing valuable insights for future curriculum development. Conclusions: Both teaching modes were effective for undergraduate surgical skills training. This study recommends implementing positive aspects of both the hybrid and in-person formats while recognizing their respective limitations. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T01:09:18Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f6f2e30119e0487883b9818c5144b58e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2174-8144 2254-9625 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T01:09:18Z |
| publishDate | 2023-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education |
| spelling | doaj.art-f6f2e30119e0487883b9818c5144b58e2023-11-18T19:04:14ZengMDPI AGEuropean Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education2174-81442254-96252023-07-011371219122810.3390/ejihpe13070090Undergraduate Skills Training in Pandemic Times: Where Is the Future of Medical Education?Andrzej Hecker0Sebastian P. Nischwitz1Johanna Petritsch2Judith C. J. Holzer-Geissler3Alexander Draschl4Thomas Wegscheider5David Benjamin Lumenta6Division of Plastic, Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Medical University of Graz, 8036 Graz, AustriaDivision of Plastic, Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Medical University of Graz, 8036 Graz, AustriaDivision of Plastic, Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Medical University of Graz, 8036 Graz, AustriaDivision of Plastic, Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Medical University of Graz, 8036 Graz, AustriaDivision of Plastic, Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Medical University of Graz, 8036 Graz, AustriaClinical Skills Center (CSC), Medical University of Graz, 8036 Graz, AustriaDivision of Plastic, Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Medical University of Graz, 8036 Graz, AustriaBackground: The COVID-19 pandemic forced medical programs to rapidly switch to remote teaching from scratch, impacting hands-on skills training. This study compared the efficacy of a hybrid online format to a regular in-person session for a mandatory surgical skills class. Methods: Third-year undergraduate medical students attending the surgical skills class in the winter semester of 2020/21 at the Medical University of Graz were randomly assigned to either the hybrid or in-person class, depending on their course schedule and government regulations. The hybrid class involved online videos, one-on-one peer tutoring, and an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE). Pre- and post-class self-assessments were conducted to evaluate their theoretical and practical knowledge of a single interrupted suture. Results: The study included 85 students in the regular in-person class and 50 in the hybrid class. A pre-class assessment revealed higher self-assessments in the hybrid class for theoretical and practical knowledge, but a post-class assessment showed no significant difference. The advantages and disadvantages of both modalities were identified, providing valuable insights for future curriculum development. Conclusions: Both teaching modes were effective for undergraduate surgical skills training. This study recommends implementing positive aspects of both the hybrid and in-person formats while recognizing their respective limitations.https://www.mdpi.com/2254-9625/13/7/90COVID-19hybrid classmedical educationobjective structured clinical examination (OSCE)online educationremote class |
| spellingShingle | Andrzej Hecker Sebastian P. Nischwitz Johanna Petritsch Judith C. J. Holzer-Geissler Alexander Draschl Thomas Wegscheider David Benjamin Lumenta Undergraduate Skills Training in Pandemic Times: Where Is the Future of Medical Education? European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education COVID-19 hybrid class medical education objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) online education remote class |
| title | Undergraduate Skills Training in Pandemic Times: Where Is the Future of Medical Education? |
| title_full | Undergraduate Skills Training in Pandemic Times: Where Is the Future of Medical Education? |
| title_fullStr | Undergraduate Skills Training in Pandemic Times: Where Is the Future of Medical Education? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Undergraduate Skills Training in Pandemic Times: Where Is the Future of Medical Education? |
| title_short | Undergraduate Skills Training in Pandemic Times: Where Is the Future of Medical Education? |
| title_sort | undergraduate skills training in pandemic times where is the future of medical education |
| topic | COVID-19 hybrid class medical education objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) online education remote class |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2254-9625/13/7/90 |
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