Resumen de Undergraduate skills training in pandemic times: where is the future of medical education?
Andrzej Hecker, Sebastian P. Nischwitz, Johanna Petritsch, Judith C. J. Holzer Geissler, Alexander Draschl, Thomas Wegscheider, David Benjamin Lumenta
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 inperson 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 inperson 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.
