Virtual orthopaedic teaching during COVID-19: Zooming around Scotland

Drw Macdonald,Te Mcmillan,On Behalf Of The Scottish Orthopaedic Research Collaborative (Score) @Scoreortho ,Im Stevenson,Score Collaborators ,Dw Neilly

doi:10.1308/rcsbull.2021.12

Abstract

Introduction The restrictions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown have resulted in a switch from face-to-face formal teaching for Scottish orthopaedic trainees to virtual teaching. The aim of this study was to determine the availability and acceptability of this online teaching as reported by trainees themselves. Methods A 20-question web-based survey was distributed to orthopaedic trainees in all four training regions in Scotland. A total of 71 respondents completed the survey. Results The average amount of formal teaching available to trainees increased during the COVID-19 lockdown, with significantly more respondents stating that they received ≥4 hours of teaching per week ( p=0.012). The average amount of consultant-led teaching also increased since lockdown, with significantly more trainees saying they received 2–3 hours ( p=0.017) or ≥4 hours ( p<0.0001) of teaching per week. There was no significant difference in the proportion of teaching opportunities that respondents were able to attend before and during lockdown but the barriers to attending teaching changed. Online teaching was highly acceptable to trainees, with 94% of those surveyed rating teaching quality and relevance as 8, 9 or 10 out of 10. The vast majority (96%) of respondents felt that virtual teaching should continue to be a part of formal trainee teaching in their region. Conclusions The switch from face-to-face to online formal teaching since the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in increased availability of formal teaching to Scottish orthopaedic trainees. The virtual teaching received has been highly acceptable to trainees.

Highlights

The Conference of Postgraduate Medical Deans states that it is the responsibility of training programme directors to ensure that postgraduate training programmes ‘deliver the specialty curriculum, and enable trainees to gain the relevant competences, knowledge, skills, attitudes and experience’.1 In order to achieve this for orthopaedic trainees, the Joint Committee on Surgical Training recommends that trainees should attend supervised clinics and theatre sessions as well as having access to at least two hours of formal teaching a week, of which they should attend at least 70%
Respondents ranged from core trainees and clinical fellows to specialist orthopaedic trainees in their final year of training
Our results suggest that the transition to virtual teaching for Scottish orthopaedic trainees was associated with changes in the time at which the teaching was delivered

Summary

Introduction

The Conference of Postgraduate Medical Deans states that it is the responsibility of training programme directors to ensure that postgraduate training programmes ‘deliver the specialty curriculum, and enable trainees to gain the relevant competences, knowledge, skills, attitudes and experience’.1 In order to achieve this for orthopaedic trainees, the Joint Committee on Surgical Training recommends that trainees should attend supervised clinics and theatre sessions as well as having access to at least two hours of formal teaching a week, of which they should attend at least 70%.2. In order to achieve this for orthopaedic trainees, the Joint Committee on Surgical Training recommends that trainees should attend supervised clinics and theatre sessions as well as having access to at least two hours of formal teaching a week, of which they should attend at least 70%.2. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the provision and delivery of healthcare. It has affected the ongoing delivery of essential medical education, creating new pedagogical challenges. All four training regions in Scotland (North, East, South East and West) have switched from a face-to-face formal teaching programme to an online teaching programme since the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of this study was to evaluate the availability and acceptability of this virtual orthopaedic teaching as perceived by the trainees themselves

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Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion