Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-jkksz Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-24T02:24:06.840Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Undergraduate experience of ENT teaching during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic: a qualitative study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 June 2021

M Walker*
Affiliation:
Department of ENT, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust and University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
E Stapleton
Affiliation:
Department of ENT, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust and University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
*
Author for correspondence: Dr Megan Walker, Manchester Royal Infirmary, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9WL, UK E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract

Background

Coronavirus disease 2019 has transformed medical education worldwide. Innovations in ENT teaching for medical students have focused on virtual learning, often replacing history-taking, patient examination and practical procedure observation. This qualitative study aimed to evaluate student experience and the impact of the altered learning environment.

Methods

Open-ended questionnaires were sent to students following ENT placements from March 2020 to March 2021. Responses were qualitatively analysed and coded using a grounded theory approach. Iterative cycles were used to develop codes via a constant comparison technique. Emerging categories from codes were refined to identify core themes.

Results

Core themes were explored, including: reduced clinical experience and patient contact compared with student expectations; challenges to learning opportunities in ENT; and the experience of different teaching methods, or preference for face-to-face teaching.

Conclusion

Medical students on ENT placement have expectations of patient contact for learning opportunities. ENT departments should ensure that patient contact and face-to-face learning opportunities are facilitated, while maintaining safety, including appropriate personal protective equipment provision.

Type
Main Articles
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Footnotes

Dr M Walker takes responsibility for the integrity of the content of the paper

Data to be presented at the Association for the Study of Medical Education (ASME) annual scientific meeting, 8–9 July 2021

References

Daniel, M, Gordon, M, Patricio, M, Hider, A, Pawlik, C, Bhagdev, R et al. An update on developments in medical education in response to the COVID-19 pandemic: a BEME scoping review: BEME Guide No. 64. Med Teach 2021;43:253–71CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gordon, M, Patricio, M, Horne, L, Muston, A, Alston, SR, Pammi, M et al. Developments in medical education in response to the COVID-19 pandemic: a rapid BEME systematic review: BEME Guide No. 63. Med Teach 2020;42:1202–15CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Shahrvini, B, Baxter, SL, Coffey, CS, MacDonald, BV, Lander, L. Pre-clinical remote undergraduate medical education during the COVID-19 pandemic: a survey study. BMC Med Educ 2021;21:13CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Singh, K, Srivastav, S, Bhardwaj, A, Dixit, A, Misra, S. Medical education during the COVID-19 pandemic: a single institution experience. Indian Pediatr 2020;57:678–9CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Khalil, R, Mansour, AE, Fadda, WA, Almisnid, K, Aldamegh, M, Al-Nafeesah, A et al. The sudden transition to synchronized online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia: a qualitative study exploring medical students’ perspectives. BMC Med Educ 2020;20:285CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Vielsmeier, V, Auerswald, S, Marienhagen, J, Keil, S, Müller, N. Digital teaching with interactive case presentations of ENT diseases – discussion of utilisation and motivation of students. GMS J Med Educ 2020;37:Doc100Google ScholarPubMed
Wickemeyer, JL, Yu, J. A model for undergraduate medical student education in otolaryngology during the post-COVID-19 era. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2021;164:562–5CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ruthberg, JS, Quereshy, HA, Ahmadmehrabi, S, Trudeau, S, Chaudry, E, Hair, B et al. A multimodal multi-institutional solution to remote medical student education for otolaryngology during COVID-19. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2020;163:707–9CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hussain, S, Almas, T. Impact of COVID-19 on medical students aspiring toward a career in otolaryngology: a medical student's perspective. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2021. Epub 2021 Mar 9CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chao, TN, Frost, AS, Brody, RM, Byrnes, YM, Cannady, SB, Luu, NN et al. Creation of an interactive virtual surgical rotation for undergraduate medical education during the COVID-19 pandemic. J Surg Educ 2021;78:346–50CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Li, L, Hopkins, M, Oliver, N, Hathorn, I, Mellanby, E. PG120 Using COVID as a platform to develop an innovative ENT simulation program. BMJ STEL 2020;6:A97–8Google Scholar
Lammers, MJW, Lea, J, Westerberg, BD. Guidance for otolaryngology health care workers performing aerosol generating medical procedures during the COVID-19 pandemic. J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2020;49:36CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Patel, ZM, Fernandez-Miranda, J, Hwang, PH, Nayak, JV, Dodd, R, Sajjadi, H et al. Precautions for endoscopic transnasal skull base surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic. Neurosurgery 2020;87:E66–7CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Comer, BT, Gupta, N, Mowry, SE, Malekzadeh, S. Otolaryngology education in the setting of COVID-19: current and future implications. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2020;163:70–4CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Choi, B, Jegatheeswaran, L, Minocha, A, Alhilani, M, Nakhoul, M, Mutengesa, E. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on final year medical students in the United Kingdom: a national survey. BMC Med Educ 2020;20:206CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Go, B, Rajasekaran, K. Effect of COVID-19 in selecting otolaryngology as a specialty. Head Neck 2020;42:1409–10CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mick, P, Murphy, R. Aerosol-generating otolaryngology procedures and the need for enhanced PPE during the COVID-19 pandemic: a literature review. J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2020;49:29CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Couloigner, V, Schmerber, S, Nicollas, R, Coste, A, Barry, B, Makeieff, M et al. COVID-19 and ENT surgery. Eur Ann Otorhinolaryngol Head Neck Dis 2020;137:161–6CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed