With rising numbers of COVID-19 patients, and the kind of surge that doesnt seem to curb, it seems like the virus is here to stay, unfortunately, atleast for the next couple of months. Dont you think its about time that the medical students be taught about the same, in detail? What are your views?
The Coronavirus disease (COVID‐19) pandemic presents a significant challenge to medical education. Recent guidelines suggest that medical students not be involved in direct patient care activities unless there is a critical health care workforce need locally. These guidelines exist for several reasons, including limitations in personal protective equipment (PPE). But a structured medical teaching programme for COVID is the need of the hour and the crisis cannot be overlooked. I am in favor of using technology to the benefit of medicine.
Harpreet Dhillon Yes, PPE is one of the biggest limitation, but also the fear that lesser trained doctors would bear the brunt of the illness, purely because of their lack of training, experience, age and awareness.
Yes, medical trainees are the worst hit. Although we have, to certain extent managed lectures through web portals, we are unable to find an alternative to bedside clinics. Elicitation of signs could be shown with help of recorded clinical material with its own limitations. Case discussions become piecemeal without hands on experience. One student could be allowed to present and demo under supervision and the session could be zoomed to others... more ideas are needed.
Abdoul Hamide Good evening sir. Absolutely the essence of my discussion. And rightly brought out too. With the insight of senior faculty like yourself, and the medical community as a whole, its imperative to find a way out of this situation.
Perhaps limiting the number of students and practising social distancing can still permit bedside teaching
Navin Kumar Devaraj True. But thats an overkill for the faculty, dont you think? They'll be doing overtime like crazy.
Iván Gordienko Noted sir. But why exactly?
To contribute to the debate on medical education in times of pandemic, compare the following manuscript that will be published in the Spanish journal medical education as an editorial.
Article Educación médica en tiempo de Pandemia: el caso de la Enferm...
To contribute to the debate on medical education in times of pandemic, compare the following manuscript that will be published in the Spanish journal medical education as an editorial.
Article Educación médica en tiempo de Pandemia: el caso de la Enferm...
Also sir its high time we should switch over to virtual mode of digital education and start using smart devices like smart stethoscope, smart ecg machines, smart usg and 2d echo devices to share, consult and spread knowledge and experience. And govt should allow and introduce the use of such devices in medical practice and teaching. They may be costly but they will substantially increase the standard of our medical practice and education.
Rabi Narayan Hota Absolutely true. Maybe not USG, because of the PNDT clauses. But all others yes.
Yes - the medical students should be included in the management of covid cases. This is not the last pandemic we are seeing 🌸
Medical students have and are contributing to present pandemic, they have been contributing to various pandemics and outbreaks:
Contribution and dilemmas of Medical undergraduate students in combating disease outbreaks: COVID 19 and previous outbreaks
Article Contribution and dilemmas of Medical undergraduate students ...
This is a tricky situation. Here comes the role of simulation based medical education, where we can use manikins and hold training sessions for both undergraduate and post graduate medical students. There are manikins available which are actual life size living beings where all basic life saving skills and procedures can be employed. Besides these social distancing and proper use of respirators amongst students can help them to see patients and learn the examination skills. History taking and all can be taught in a classroom or online.
We are conducting Final year MBBS classes using simulation and standardized patient. These sessions are being conducted in small groups with all precaution. These sessions entail more efforts from instructors, but student feedback is great.
Manisha Naithani Totally agree with madam....the effort required from the teachers/instructors for such classes is huge and cumbersome but it poses the least amount of risk both to the students as well as the teachers.
Thank you Manisha Naithani maam and Aroop Mohanty for your interesting perspectives on the topic. Both absolutely valid and pertinent.
Due to safety concerns virtual teaching is being resorted to in medicine also just like other fields but I personally feel that it can be at best be a temporary solution,what can be learnt at the pato Ent’s bedside by observing and demonstrating the signs cannot be replaced!!
Suprita Kalra Absolutely true ma’am! The art and practise of medicine
Interesting Quesiton Shibu Sasidharan
COVID or not, medical education has to continue. And importantly we need to train the future doctors to handle pandemics like this. So the question of sheltering the students/cessation of training should not come. Probably this is an opportunity to learn - as has been mentioned by WHO - this is not the last pandemic !!
About the question about virtual modes of learning - simulations and virtual experiences have a definitive role in sensitisation of the topic but are a poor proxy for real-world exposure. So perhaps a hybrid model will become increasingly important. A virtual experience to learn the basics before a real-world exposure.
Rakesh Datta Thank you for that insight sir. Point well taken, and yes indeed - the hybrid model is the need of the hour.