Implementation and evaluation of eight virtual surgical electives for medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic - 26/07/21

Doi : 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2021.01.032

Brian Pettitt-Schieber ^a, Marissa Kuo ^a, Andrew Steehler ^a, Andy Dong ^a, Omolola Fakunle ^a, Tad Manalo ^a, Oblaise Mercury ^a, Francis Simpson ^a, Ndéye Guissé ^a, Matthew Studer ^a, Marie-Veronique Poirier ^a, Brandon Philbrick ^a, Zachary Grady ^a, Michelle Higgins ^a, Lindsay Gallo ^a, Dora Danko ^a, Reem Dawoud ^a, Barbara Pettitt ^b,^⁎
^a School of Medicine, Emory University, USA
^b School of Medicine, Department of Surgery, Emory University, USA

^∗Corresponding author. 1364 Clifton Road NE, Surgical Education Office Room H-121, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA.1364 Clifton Road NESurgical Education Office Room H-121AtlantaGA30322USA

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Abstract

Background

Eight novel virtual surgery electives (VSEs) were developed and implemented in April–May 2020 for medical students forced to continue their education remotely due to COVID-19.

Methods

Each VSE was 1–2 weeks long, contained specialty-specific course objectives, and included a variety of teaching modalities. Students completed a post-course survey to assess changes in their interest and understanding of the specialty. Quantitative methods were employed to analyze the results.

Results

Eighty-three students participated in the electives and 67 (80.7%) completed the post-course survey. Forty-six (68.7%) respondents reported “increased” or “greatly increased” interest in the course specialty completed. Survey respondents’ post-course understanding of each specialty increased by a statistically significant amount (p-value = <0.0001).

Conclusion

This initial effort demonstrated that VSEs can be an effective tool for increasing medical students’ interest in and understanding of surgical specialties. They should be studied further with more rigorous methods in a larger population.

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Highlights

•	Virtual learning exposes medical students to the range of surgical specialties.
•	Virtual modalities are effective at increasing student understanding and interest.
•	Surgical skills can still be taught at a basic level through a virtual environment.
•	Virtual learning can augment medical students’ traditional surgical clerkship.

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Keywords : COVID-19, Virtual education, Remote learning, Medical student education