Zufriedenheit angehender Arbeits- und Betriebsmedizinerinnen und -mediziner mit der digitalen Lehre in arbeitsmedizinischen Weiterbildungskursen während der COVID-19-Pandemie

Abstract

Satisfaction of prospective occupational and workplace physicians with digital training in postgraduate occupational medicine courses during COVID-19 pandemic – A quantitative survey in Germany Objective: The aim of this paper is to investigate the satisfaction of prospective occupational and workplace physicians with the mandatory postgraduate training in occupational medicine offered by academies in Germany, which had to be rapidly converted from face-to-face to digital training during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Prospective occupational and workplace physicians in postgraduate medical education throughout Germany were asked about their needs and their satisfaction with digital training during the COVID-19 pandemic. The online survey took place from January to December 2021 and collected data were analysed descriptively. Results: Of the n=176 respondents, 48.0 % were satisfied with their academy‘s digital training in occupational medicine during the COVID-19 pandemic. The majority expressed a desire for further digital training in the future to complement face-to-face training (91.9 %). Different preferences for the use of both formats were identified. Conclusions: This study provides initial empirical evidence of the satisfaction and needs of prospective occupational and workplace physicians with the ad hoc digital training in occupational medicine offered by academies in Germany in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. The study results provide a basis for the further development and implementation of blended learning programmes in postgraduate and continuing medical education. Future studies should longitudinally evaluate both qualitatively and quantitatively the implementation of blended learning programmes at academies of continuing medical education. Keywords: medical education – online learning – COVID-19 pandemic – e-learning – blended learning