Is it possible to continue academic teaching in surgery during the COVID pandemic era?

Abstract

In the era of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, we critically appraised the literature by means of a systematic review on surgical education and propose an educational curriculum with the aid of available technologies. We performed a literature search on 10 May 2020 of Medline/PubMed, Embase, Google Scholar and major journals with specific COVID-19 sections. Articles eligible for inclusion contained the topic of education in surgery in the context of COVID-19. Specific questions we aimed to answer were: Is there any difference in surgical education from pre-COVID-19 to now? How does technology assist us in teaching? Can we better harness technology to augment resident training? Two-hundred and twenty-six articles were identified, 21 relevant for our aim: 14 case studies, three survey analyses, three reviews and one commentary. The collapse of the traditional educational system due to social distancing caused a fragmentation of knowledge, a reduced acquisition of skills and a decreased employment of surgical trainees. These problems can be partially overcome by using new technologies and arranging 2-weeks rotation shifts, alternating clinical activities with learning. While medical care will remain largely based on the interaction with patients, students' adaptability to innovation will be a characteristic of post-COVID classes.

Latin American Residents’ Surgical Education After the Pandemic: What Strategies Have Emerged for Adapting to This New Era?

“…Different authors mentioned the usefulness of “Touch Surgery” as a complement to simulation during the pandemic 16 , 23 , 42 . It includes simulation courses for 12 surgical specialties with more than 200 procedures and an evaluation component 2 .…”

“…Walter de Biase SILVA-NETO 1 , Claudemiro QUIRESE 1 , Eduardo Guimarães Horneaux de MOURA 2 , Fabricio Ferreira COELHO 3 , Paulo HERMAN 3 ABSTRACT -Background: The treatment of choice for patients with schistosomiasis with previous episode of varices is bleeding esophagogastric devascularization and splenectomy (EGDS) in association with postoperative endoscopic therapy. However, studies have shown varices recurrence especially after long-term follow-up.…”

Tutorials in anatomy education of medical students during the COVID‐19 pandemic – An evaluation of its effectiveness

“…as virtual reality became a new part of surgery education during the COVID-19 period, as mentioned by Arezzo et al (2020); the lectures are given digitally while the lab work uses virtual reality. In our case, anatomy is also developing.…”

“…This technique is a more active teaching method and has a more positive effect (Masters, 2013). The addition of new technologies such as virtual reality became a new part of surgery education during the COVID‐19 period, as mentioned by Arezzo et al (2020); the lectures are given digitally while the lab work uses virtual reality. In our case, anatomy is also developing.…”

A Narrative Review of Innovative Responses During the COVID-19 Pandemic in 2020

“…The role of techniques such as AI and big data should be emphasized to show the value of the next breakout of disease. In the field of education, virtual learning, VR, and simulation play promising roles in the future beyond the pandemic, since they provide extremely realistic environments for students to learn from and have been proven effective in cognitive training and clinical decision-making [ 43 ]. Most of the ideas and development of innovative responses are expected to continue and even grow in the global healthcare system after the pandemic.…”