Telemedicine and medical education: a mixed-methods systematic review protocol.

Abstract

The objective of this review is to synthesize and appraise the available research on educational strategies required to prepare medical learners for engaging in telemedicine and virtual care. The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in significant uptake of virtual care and telemedicine, highlighting the growing need for health care organizations and medical institutions to support physicians and learners navigating this new model of health care delivery, clinical learning, and assessment. Developing a better understanding of how best to prepare medical trainees across the continuum of undergraduate, postgraduate, and continuing professional development to engage in virtual care is critical to ensuring our continued ability to meet educational mandates and provide ambulatory care that is safe, efficient, and timely. Studies focused on teaching or learning telemedicine/virtual care that include an assessment of competencies, knowledge, or behaviors of learners will be considered for inclusion in the review. Embase, MEDLINE, Cochrane CENTRAL, Web of Science Core Collection, EbscoHost Education Source, and ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global will be searched to identify published and unpublished studies. No date or language restrictions will be applied. This systematic review will be conducted in accordance with the JBI methodology for mixed methods systematic reviews using a convergent segregated approach. Titles and abstracts of potential studies will be screened and potentially relevant studies will undergo full-text review for eligibility and critical appraisal of the study methodology. Data will be extracted from those studies selected for inclusion. Findings will be described relating to the effectiveness of educational curricula, initiatives, and best practices in trainee engagement in telemedicine and virtual care. PROSPERO (CRD42021264332).