Thoughts on Higher Medical Education Under Major Public Health Emergencies: Thinking Ahead after COVID-19 Outbreak - A Case-Control Study

Abstract

Background: The spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has posed great threat to the global population’s health and nearly every medical school throughout the world suspended classes as a precaution against the virus. The aim of this research is to explore the most suitable teaching and learning pattern in medical school during COVID-19 Outbreak. Methods: This was a case-control study which conducted in a medical school. We applied a new blended teaching model based on 5G network that combined team-based learning (TBL) and online interaction to the students before the outbreak and when universities responded to the COVID-19 outbreak by closing campuses, they shifted to different forms of distance learning. Fifty fourth-year medical students receiving the “5+3” pattern courses regarding internal medicine were enrolled in the study. A five-point Likert scale questionnaire that contains 20 items was used to compare the effect of the two kinds of teaching patterns. It evaluated the indicators of core competencies of students including professionalism, attitude towards learning, knowledge and learning skills, teamwork skills, motivation in learning, adaptability and acceptance of the courses and network environment. Results: According to the descriptive statistical analysis of the first part of the questionnaire (question 1-16), the average score of adaptability and acceptance of the courses is 2.60 less than 3, indicating that students are more adapted to other forms of distance learning during COVID-19 outbreak; the average score of the rest of the questions is greater than 3, indicating that blended teaching model based on 5G network is superior to other forms of distance learning. The number of male students who are inclined to the blended teaching model based on 5G network is 0.13 times as much as that of female students (95%CI:0.028~0.602, p=0.009). Conclusion: The results that medical education based on 5G network that combined team-based learning (TBL) and online interaction is a more suitable option to teach medical students. Funding Statement: None. Declaration of Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests. Ethics Approval Statement: The study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of Fujian Provincial Hospital (No. K2020-04-41).