The attitudes, perceptions and experiences of medical school applicants following the closure of schools and cancellation of public examinations in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional questionnaire study of UK medical applicants

Woolf, Katherine; Harrison, David J.; McManus, I. C.

doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2020-044753

Cited by 11 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…The UK Medical Applicant Cohort Study (UKMACS) is a longitudinal questionnaire study of prospective medical school applicants, run by a study group at University College London, and recruiting primarily from UCAT registrars in 2019. 8 Almost all UK medical applicants sit the UCAT (98% did so in an analysis of 22 520 school-aged applicants between 2010 and 2014 9 ). This study used UKMACS data to answer two research questions:…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Medical applicant general practice experience and career aspirations: a questionnaire study

et al. 2021

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BackgroundIncreasing access to General Practice (GP) work experience placements for school students is a strategy for improving GP recruitment despite limited evidence and concerns surrounding equity of access to GP experiences.AimsTo examine the association between undertaking GP experience and the perceptions of GP as an appealing future career among prospective medical applicants. To identify socioeconomic factors associated with obtaining GP experience.Design & settingCross-sectional questionnaire study in the United Kingdom.MethodParticipants were UK residents aged 16 or older and seriously considering applying to study medicine in 2019/2020. They were invited to take part via the University Clinical Aptitude Test. Questionnaire data were analysed using a linear regression of GP appeal on GP experience adjusting for career motivations and demographics, and a logistic regression of GP experience on measures of social capital and demographics.ResultsOf 6,391 respondents, 4,031 were in their last year of school. GP experience predicted GP appeal after adjusting for career motivation and demographics (b=0.365, SE =0.06 p<0.00001). GP experience was more common among students at private (OR =1.65, 95% CI=1.31–2.08; P<0.0001) or grammar schools (OR =1.33, 95% CI =1.02–1.72; P=0.03) and in the highest socioeconomic group (OR =1.62, 95% CI =1.28–2.05; P<0.0001) and less likely among students of ‘Other’ ethnicity (OR =0.37, 95% CI =0.20–0.67; P=0.0011).ConclusionHaving GP experience prior to medical school was associated with finding GP appealing, which supports its utility in recruitment. Applicants from more deprived backgrounds were less likely to have had a GP experience, possibly through lack of accessible opportunities.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Medical applicant general practice experience and career aspirations: a questionnaire study

et al. 2021

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“…Hussein’s concerns are not alone, and the UKMACS study in April 2020 found concerns about fairness were particularly present in medical school applicants from non-selective schools, from black, Asian and minority ethnic applicants, from female applicants, and from those living in more deprived areas. 10 …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“… 9 The current paper should also be read in parallel with a second study from some members of the present team which assesses attitudes and perceptions to calculated grades and other changes in selection of current medical school applicants in the UK Medical Applicants Cohort Study (UKMACS). 10 11 …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Predictive validity of A-level grades and teacher-predicted grades in UK medical school applicants: a retrospective analysis of administrative data in a time of COVID-19

et al. 2021

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ObjectivesTo compare in UK medical students the predictive validity of attained A-level grades and teacher-predicted A levels for undergraduate and postgraduate outcomes. Teacher-predicted A-level grades are a plausible proxy for the teacher-estimated grades that replaced UK examinations in 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The study also models the likely future consequences for UK medical schools of replacing public A-level examination grades with teacher-predicted grades.DesignLongitudinal observational study using UK Medical Education Database data.SettingUK medical education and training.ParticipantsDataset 1: 81 202 medical school applicants in 2010–2018 with predicted and attained A-level grades. Dataset 2: 22 150 18-year-old medical school applicants in 2010–2014 with predicted and attained A-level grades, of whom 12 600 had medical school assessment outcomes and 1340 had postgraduate outcomes available.Outcome measuresUndergraduate and postgraduate medical examination results in relation to attained and teacher-predicted A-level results.ResultsDataset 1: teacher-predicted grades were accurate for 48.8% of A levels, overpredicted in 44.7% of cases and underpredicted in 6.5% of cases. Dataset 2: undergraduate and postgraduate outcomes correlated significantly better with attained than with teacher-predicted A-level grades. Modelling suggests that using teacher-estimated grades instead of attained grades will mean that 2020 entrants are more likely to underattain compared with previous years, 13% more gaining the equivalent of the lowest performance decile and 16% fewer reaching the equivalent of the current top decile, with knock-on effects for postgraduate training.ConclusionsThe replacement of attained A-level examination grades with teacher-estimated grades as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic may result in 2020 medical school entrants having somewhat lower academic performance compared with previous years. Medical schools may need to consider additional teaching for entrants who are struggling or who might need extra support for missed aspects of A-level teaching.

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“…The pre-existing inequalities in the UK's higher education system have been widely recognised. A report by The Sutton Trust (2020), a UK charity supporting equal educational opportunities, has shown that state school students are less likely to be receiving A-level teaching than those from private schools, a finding echoed in a recent study of medical school applicants (Woolf, Harrison and McManus, 2021). This is critical considering that A-level examination results form part of the requirements for university entrance in the UK.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Given the increased disparity in support with the university application process between private and state schools (Woolf, Harrison and McManus, 2021), widening participation (WP) activities are more important than ever.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Make Me A Medic: A Widening Participation Course Adapted Online Due to COVID-19

Kossaibati¹,

Ghosh²,

Boulton³

et al. 2021

MedEdPublish

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Introduction:The COVID-19 pandemic has had an unprecedented impact on students currently preparing to apply for medical school, including lost work experience opportunities and reduced support from schools. This study evaluated an annual widening participation course aimed at supporting Year 12 students local to Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, which was adapted into an online format in response to these challenges.Methods: Participants completed application forms, pre-course, post-course and daily evaluation questionnaires. Participants' pre-and post-course self-reported preparedness scores were analysed using a two-tailed paired t-test. Thematic analysis was performed on all free-text responses.Results: In the pre-course questionnaire (n=48), participants reported difficulties with applications due to the COVID-19 pandemic, predominantly through lost work experience and a lack of support from schools. In the postcourse questionnaire (n=42), participants gained an understanding of medical school interviews, the application process and insights from doctors. Interactive Q&A sessions and practice interviews were found to be particularly valuable, however some participants were unable to partake due to factors such as poor internet connection.Paired responses from participants completing both pre-and post-course questionnaires (n=40) demonstrated a statistically significant increase in preparedness in all areas assessed. Discussion: With a need for alternatives to clinical work experience and school support with applications, this virtual programme is an effective example of how widening participation activities can be sustained in the current climate and continued in the future. However, inadequate internet access can pose a barrier to participation and ways

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The attitudes, perceptions and experiences of medical school applicants following the closure of schools and cancellation of public examinations in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional questionnaire study of UK medical applicants

Cited by 11 publications

References 11 publications

Medical applicant general practice experience and career aspirations: a questionnaire study

Medical applicant general practice experience and career aspirations: a questionnaire study

Predictive validity of A-level grades and teacher-predicted grades in UK medical school applicants: a retrospective analysis of administrative data in a time of COVID-19

Make Me A Medic: A Widening Participation Course Adapted Online Due to COVID-19

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