Abstract
BackgroundDuring the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, the quality of surgical education experiences sudden major restrictions. Students’ presence in the operating theater and on wards is reduced to a bare minimum and face-to-face teaching is diminished. Aim of this study was therefore to evaluate alternative but feasible educational concepts, such as an online-only-platform for undergraduates.ObjectiveA new online platform for undergraduate surgical education was implemented. A virtual curriculum for online-only education was designed.Methods A video-based online platform was designed. Following this, a cohort of medical students participating in a (voluntary) surgical course was randomized into a test and control group. Prior to conducting a written exam, students in the test group prepared using the video platform. Students in the control group prepared with standard surgical text books. Results of the exam were used to compare educational means.ResultsStudents in the test group preparing through the video-based online platform reached significantly higher scores in the written exams (p = 0.0001) than students of the control group. A trend towards reduced preparation time that did not reach statistical significance was detectable in the test group (p = 0.090). Scores of “perceived workload” and “desire to become a surgeon” offered no differences between the groups. (p = 0.474 and 1.000).ConclusionsAn online-only, virtual curriculum proved feasible for surgical education in undergraduates. While blended learning concepts were applied in both groups, only the test group had access to case-based videos of surgical procedures and scored significantly better in the written exams. Thus, video-based virtual education offers a realistic alternative to face-to-face teaching or conventional text books in times of restricted access to the operating theatre.
Highlights
Surgical education offers a long history of learning through apprenticeship
An online-only, virtual curriculum proved feasible for surgical education in undergraduates
While blended learning concepts were applied in both groups, only the test group had access to case-based videos of surgical procedures and scored significantly better in the written exams
Summary
Surgical education offers a long history of learning through apprenticeship. Historically, surgical novices followed a skilled teacher closely to gain both knowledge of theoretical backgrounds and manual skills alike. During the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, non-emergency operations had to be re-scheduled Both case-numbers and in-house personal was reduced in an effort to curb infection rates [1, 2]. Only a limited number of personnel was allowed in the operating theater, depriving students of the possibility to witness operations [1, 3,4,5] These circumstances have affected surgical education on many levels- ranging from undergraduate students to senior residents [3, 6]. To continue safe surgical education, classical approaches had to shift unanticipatedly from workplace teaching to remote studying. Aim of this study was to evaluate alternative but feasible educational concepts, such as an online-only-platform for undergraduates
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