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Category: Volume 09 Issue 11 November 2021
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Title: Impact of COVID-19 on Undergraduate Surgical Education in the UK

Authors: Annabel Chadwick, Kasturi Rangan Sarathy, Mohammed Zaman, Khurram Siddique

 DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v9i11.23

Abstract

Background & Aims: The main aim of the study was to assess the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on surgical education for the medical students.

Methods: Final year medical students of Manchester University who had completed their surgical placement were invited to participate in the study. All participants were given a questionnaire through the University social media platform.  Responses to the questionnaire were analysed to evaluate the outcome.

Results: The surgical education for medical students during the pandemic was analysed on various aspects like ward-based learning, out-patient clinic, theatre sessions and various teaching methods that were employed. Sixty-four percent of students felt that COVID-19 had a significant negative impact on ward-based learning, while forty percent felt that their learning in out-patient clinics was affected. All of them had an opportunity to attend at least one theatre session during the pandemic. On the other hand, forty eight percent of students felt that the theatre learning activities were adequate during this period while twenty four percent of students remained neutral in their view. Webinars remained the most attended teaching sessions with about eighty-eight percent of students receiving some form of online teaching, while simulation-based approach remained the most popular among the students.

Conclusion: Ward based learning has been significantly affected by the pandemic.  Students were satisfied with the learning opportunities in theatre.  Newer methods including actor-based simulation using MS teams, out-patients’ clinics and simulation-based assessments were regarded the best teaching modalities and were highly appreciated by students.

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Corresponding Author

Kasturi Rangan Sarathy

Department of General and Colorectal Surgery

Royal Oldham Hospital

Manchester OL1 2JH