Elsevier

Journal of Surgical Research

Volume 270, February 2022, Pages 261-265
Journal of Surgical Research

Student Acceptance of Virtual Bedside Surgical Tutorials During COVID-19: A Randomized Controlled Trial

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jss.2021.09.029Get rights and content

ABSTRACT

Background

The social distancing recommendations from the WHO during the pandemic has resulted in a pivot point in the delivery of medical education. With the medical student clinical experience constantly under threat; novel methods to maintain adequate surgical patient exposure and student interaction on a platform amenable to the interactive format required were devised using a virtual platform to compliment current pedagogical approaches.

Methods

A parallel randomized controlled trial evaluated the perceived use of remote learning in place of bedside teaching. Participants were randomized to undergo surgical bedside teaching in person or virtually. Feedback questionnaires and exit interviews carried out following each session. Content analysis of transcripts was performed to evaluate the presence and quality of perceived learning, benefits and limitations to each modality.

Results

Feedback demonstrated greater engagement, satisfaction, involvement and learning (P < 0.001) in the bedside teaching group. Content analysis yielded three main themes; Technological, Interpersonal Component, Provision of Content. Participants in the virtual group reported a limited ability to elicit clinically relevant findings in surgical patients. Students however reported the virtual teaching was an acceptable method of learning with 90% satisfaction reported for learning via the virtual platform.

Discussion

The pandemic posed challenges to adequate student-patient exposure. Delivering surgical bedside teaching remotely is a method amenable to learning for students, with advantages including convenience, fewer reports of information fatigue, and decreased perceived pressure identified with this learning modality.

Keywords

Surgical curriculum
Clinical based teaching
Student perspectives
Qualitative analysis

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