COVID-19: Considerations for Medical Education during a Pandemic

Abstract

Clinical placement has been the cornerstone of medical training since the early foundations of the medical profession. The COVID-19 pandemic generates unprecedented challenges for the delivery of medical education, particularly in the setting of ‘flatten the curve’ public health initiatives to curtail transmission. As the number of cases of COVID-19 increase, hospitals are limiting medical students’ attendance at ward rounds, clinics and theatre, representing a fundamental shift in clinical education from the bedside to online formats. We discuss the considerations behind these changes, review the strategies implemented during previous global infectious disease epidemics, and suggest strategies for maximising clinical education going forward. Keywords: Medical education; COVID-19; medical students during COVID-19; changes to medical schools during a pandemic; pandemic management education; medical students on the frontline Keywords: Medical education; COVID-19; medical students during COVID-19; changes to medical schools during a pandemic; pandemic management education; medical students on the frontline