Center for Development of Medical Education, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, Av Dr Arnaldo, 455 Sala 2349, São Paulo, SP, ZIP code 01246-903, Brazil.
BMC Med Educ. 2022 Feb 19;22(1):111. doi: 10.1186/s12909-022-03147-7.
Considering evidence on competency-based curricula and the benefits of volunteering, this study highlights innovative ideas to improve medical education during the COVID-19 pandemic. We investigated the motivations and perceptions of competencies developed as leadership and management skills in medical students who joined the COVID-19 Volunteering Program in a Brazilian medical school.
We performed a cross-sectional, qualitative study involving medical students from the University of São Paulo, Brazil. They were invited to participate in an institutional Volunteering Program during the pandemic and filled out online application forms, including sociodemographic fields and two open-ended questions about their motivation to volunteer and perceptions of their own competencies. At the end of the program, students who were involved in management-related activities were also invited to participate in focus group interviews to track their perceptions about volunteering in this area. Data were submitted to descriptive and content analysis methods. All participants provided informed consent with electronic signatures.
A total of 286 medical students subscribed to the Volunteering Program: 171 (60%) were men, 152 (53%) were enrolled in their 5th year of medical school, and 158 (55%) were 23-25 years old. One hundred and twelve (44%) students reported that they were motivated by altruistic reasons, 95 (37%) reported duty and 47 (19%) prioritized academic interests. Concerning CanMEDS competencies, 91 (36%) students' responses matched the Scholar component, followed by 51 (20%) with Collaborator, 49 (20%) with Professional, 32 (13%) with Communicator, 17 (7%) with Leader and 11 (4%) with Health Advocate. In focus groups, students reported the importance of management and leadership skills as a curricular component, motivations to volunteer, and acquired skills from volunteering in management and leadership-related activities, thereby indicating the development of resilient attitudes.
Students who participated in the School of Medicine of University of Sao Paulo (FMUSP) Volunteering Program reported being motivated to help others (altruistic reasons) and to serve society as future health professionals (duty). Knowledge and work-related competencies prevailed over leadership or soft skills, emphasizing the importance of including such activities in the curriculum. Participating in management-related activities could help develop a more resilient attitude toward medical training. Volunteering programs offer students opportunities to develop competencies essential for their roles as future health professionals. Thus, we should think about including such activities in the curricular structure.
鉴于基于能力的课程的证据和志愿服务的好处，本研究强调了在 COVID-19 大流行期间改进医学教育的创新思路。我们调查了在巴西一所医学院加入 COVID-19 志愿服务计划的医学生发展为领导力和管理技能的动机和认知。
我们进行了一项横断面、定性研究，涉及来自巴西圣保罗大学的医学生。他们被邀请在大流行期间参加机构志愿服务计划，并填写在线申请表，其中包括社会人口统计学领域和两个关于他们自愿参加的动机和对自己能力的认知的开放式问题。在计划结束时，还邀请参与管理相关活动的学生参加焦点小组访谈，以跟踪他们对该领域志愿服务的看法。数据采用描述性和内容分析法。所有参与者均以电子签名方式提供知情同意。
共有 286 名医学生订阅了志愿服务计划：171 名（60%）为男性，152 名（53%）为 5 年级学生，158 名（55%）为 23-25 岁。112 名（44%）学生表示他们是出于利他的原因而受到激励的，95 名（37%）表示是出于责任，47 名（19%）则优先考虑学术兴趣。关于 CanMEDS 能力，91 名（36%）学生的回答与学者部分相符，其次是 51 名（20%）与合作者，49 名（20%）与专业人员，32 名（13%）与沟通者，17 名（7%）与领导者和 11 名（4%）与健康倡导者。在焦点小组中，学生们报告说，管理和领导技能作为课程的一个组成部分非常重要，志愿服务的动机，以及在管理和领导相关活动中获得的技能，从而表明他们发展了有弹性的态度。
参加圣保罗大学医学院（FMUSP）志愿服务计划的学生表示，他们是出于帮助他人（利他的原因）和作为未来的卫生专业人员为社会服务（责任）的动机而参加的。知识和与工作相关的能力比领导力或软技能更重要，这强调了在课程中纳入此类活动的重要性。参与管理相关活动可以帮助培养对医学培训更有弹性的态度。志愿服务计划为学生提供了发展未来卫生专业人员所需技能的机会。因此，我们应该考虑将此类活动纳入课程结构中。
