Implementation and evaluation of eight virtual surgical electives for medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Brian Pettitt-Schieber, Emory University; Marissa Kuo, Emory University; Andrew Steehler, Emory University; Andy Dong, Emory University; Omolola Fakunle, Emory University; Tad Manalo, Emory University; Oblaise Mercury, Emory University; Francis Simpson, Emory University; Ndéye Guisse, Emory University; Matthew Studer, Emory University; Marie-Veronique Poirier, Emory University; Brandon Philbrick, Emory University; Zachary Grady, Emory University; Michelle Higgins, Emory University; Lindsay Gallo, Emory University; Dora Danko, Emory University; Reem Dawoud, Emory University; Barbara Pettitt, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2021-07-26
• Publisher: Excerpta Medica Inc - Elsevier Science Inc.
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.amjsurg.2021.01.032
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: American Journal of Surgery
• Volume: 222
• Issue: 2
• Start Page: 248
• End Page: 253
• Grant/Funding Information: This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.
• Keywords: Life Sciences & Biomedicine; COVID-19; Virtual education; Medical student education; Surgery; Science & Technology; Remote learning
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, Health Care Management; Health Sciences, Medicine and Surgery; Health Sciences, Public Health

Abstract

Background: Eight novel virtual surgery electives (VSEs) were developed and implemented in April–May 2020 for medical students forced to continue their education remotely due to COVID-19. Methods: Each VSE was 1–2 weeks long, contained specialty-specific course objectives, and included a variety of teaching modalities. Students completed a post-course survey to assess changes in their interest and understanding of the specialty. Quantitative methods were employed to analyze the results. Results: Eighty-three students participated in the electives and 67 (80.7%) completed the post-course survey. Forty-six (68.7%) respondents reported “increased” or “greatly increased” interest in the course specialty completed. Survey respondents’ post-course understanding of each specialty increased by a statistically significant amount (p-value = <0.0001). Conclusion: This initial effort demonstrated that VSEs can be an effective tool for increasing medical students’ interest in and understanding of surgical specialties. They should be studied further with more rigorous methods in a larger population.