Emergency distance learning in Medicine: positive and negative aspects in teaching and learning during the pandemic

Abstract:

Introduction:

Distance learning emerged as an emergency tool used in Higher Education during the COVID-19 pandemic. These circumstances led to the increased use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) for teaching and learning in Medicine courses.

Objective:

To conduct an integrative review to clarify the main positive and negative aspects found in the exercise of medical education in these atypical conditions.

Method:

Articles were searched on the following databases: Virtual Health Library (VHL), Embase, Education Resources Information Center (ERIC), Medline (via PubMed), Scopus and Web of Science

Result:

At the end of the screening and selection processes, 69 articles were included, from which information was extracted regarding the characteristics, positive and negative aspects of each remote medical teaching experience offered during the pandemic. Among the main positive aspects, we highlight the positive evaluation of the curricular component by the students, greater student autonomy, greater participation and communication among students and the absence of any learning deficit. The main negative points include the suspension of practical classes, complications arising from the use of technologies (connectivity, training and organization) and lack of social contact.

Conclusion:

It is observed that student autonomy and self-discipline is a crucial factor in taking full advantage of the distance learning approach, and perhaps the classic face-to-face student was not prepared for such a sudden change. Still, it is clear that, due to the urgency of implementing this new form of learning, distance learning has not had enough time to mature and be perfected to the point of being considered a medical education strategy applicable in the long term. Distance learning was crucial for the continued training of new doctors for an extended period of time. However, it needs to be reassessed and improved as a pedagogical strategy that uses ICTs for medical education.

Keywords:
Medical Education; COVID -19 Pandemic; Online Teaching