The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Uxbridge, UK.
Department of Medicine, Hillingdon Hospital, Pield Heath Rd, Uxbridge, UB8 3NN, UK.
BMC Med Educ. 2020 Jun 29;20(1):206. doi: 10.1186/s12909-020-02117-1.
The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) global pandemic has resulted in unprecedented public health measures. This has impacted the UK education sector with many universities halting campus-based teaching and examinations. The aim of this study is to identify the impact of COVID-19 on final year medical students' examinations and placements in the United Kingdom (UK) and how it might impact their confidence and preparedness going into their first year of foundation training.
A 10-item online survey was distributed to final year medical students across 33 UK medical schools. The survey was designed by combining dichotomous, multiple choice and likert response scale questions. Participants were asked about the effect that the COVID-19 global pandemic had on final year medical written exams, electives, assistantships and objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs). The survey also explored the student's confidence and preparedness going into their first year of training under these new unprecedented circumstances.
Four hundred forty students from 32 UK medical schools responded. 38.4% (n = 169) of respondents had their final OSCEs cancelled while 43.0% (n = 189) had already completed their final OSCEs before restrictions. 43.0% (n = 189) of assistantship placements were postponed while 77.3% (n = 340) had electives cancelled. The impact of COVID-19 on OSCEs, written examinations and student assistantships significantly affected students' preparedness (respectively p = 0.025, 0.008, 0.0005). In contrast, when measuring confidence, only changes to student assistantships had a significant effect (p = 0.0005). The majority of students feel that measures taken during this pandemic to amend their curricula was necessary. Respondents also agree that assisting in hospitals during the outbreak would be a valuable learning opportunity.
The impact on medical student education has been significant, particularly affecting the transition from student to doctor. This study showed the disruptions to student assistantships had the biggest effect on students' confidence and preparedness. For those willing to assist in hospitals to join the front-line workforce, it is crucial to maintain their wellbeing with safeguards such as proper inductions, support and supervision.
冠状病毒病（COVID-19）全球大流行导致了前所未有的公共卫生措施。这对英国教育部门产生了影响，许多大学停止了校园内的教学和考试。本研究的目的是确定 COVID-19 对英国（英国）最后一年医学生考试和实习的影响，以及它如何影响他们进入基础培训第一年的信心和准备情况。
对 33 所英国医学院的最后一年医学生进行了一项 10 项在线调查。该调查是通过结合二项式、多项选择题和李克特量表问题设计的。参与者被问及 COVID-19 全球大流行对最后一年医学生的书面考试、选修课程、助理工作和客观结构化临床考试（OSCE）的影响。该调查还探讨了学生在这些新的前所未有的情况下进入第一年培训的信心和准备情况。
来自 32 所英国医学院的 440 名学生做出了回应。38.4%（n=169）的受访者的最后一次 OSCE 被取消，而 43.0%（n=189）的受访者在限制之前已经完成了最后一次 OSCE。43.0%（n=189）的助理职位被推迟，而 77.3%（n=340）的选修课程被取消。COVID-19 对 OSCE、书面考试和学生助理工作的影响显著影响了学生的准备情况（分别为 p=0.025、0.008、0.0005）。相比之下，当衡量信心时，只有学生助理工作的变化有显著影响（p=0.0005）。大多数学生认为在大流行期间采取修改课程的措施是必要的。受访者还同意，在疫情期间协助医院将是一个有价值的学习机会。
对医学生教育的影响是巨大的，特别是影响了从学生到医生的过渡。本研究表明，学生助理工作的中断对学生的信心和准备情况影响最大。对于那些愿意协助医院加入一线工作人员的人来说，至关重要的是通过适当的入职培训、支持和监督等措施来维护他们的福利。
