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Soklaridis S, Chowdhury M, Turco MG, Tremblay M, Mazmanian P, Williams B, Besa R, Sockalingam S. Pivoting Continuing Professional Development During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Narrative Scoping Review of Adaptations and Innovations. THE JOURNAL OF CONTINUING EDUCATION IN THE HEALTH PROFESSIONS 2024:00005141-990000000-00104. [PMID: 38205969 DOI: 10.1097/ceh.0000000000000539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Most formal continuing professional development (CPD) opportunities were offered in person until March 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted traditional structures of CPD offerings. The authors explored the adaptations and innovations in CPD that were strengthened or newly created during the first 16 months of the pandemic. METHODS The objectives of the narrative review were to answer the following questions: (1) what types of adaptations to CPD innovations are described? and (2) what may shape future innovations in CPD? The following databases were searched: Medline, Embase, CINAHL, and ERIC to identify the literature published between March 2020 to July 2021. The authors conducted a comprehensive search by including all study types that described adaptations and/or innovations in CPD during the stated pandemic period. RESULTS Of the 8295 citations retrieved from databases, 191 satisfied the inclusion criteria. The authors found three categories to describe adaptations to CPD innovations: (1) creation of new online resources, (2) increased use of the existing online platforms/software to deliver CPD, and (3) use of simulation for teaching and learning. Reported advantages and disadvantages associated with these adaptations included logistical, interactional, and capacity building elements. The review identified five potential future CPD innovations: (1) empirical research on the effectiveness of virtual learning; (2) novel roles and ways of thinking; (3) learning from other disciplines beyond medicine; (4) formation of a global perspective; and (5) emerging wellness initiatives. DISCUSSION This review provided an overview of the adaptations and innovations that may shape the future of CPD beyond the pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Soklaridis
- Dr. Soklaridis: Senior Scientist, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Department of Psychiatry, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Department of Family and Community Medicine, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and The Wilson Centre, University Health Network/University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Ms. Chowdhury: PhD (cand.), Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Dr. Turco: Associate Professor of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Centre/Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH. Dr. Tremblay: Senior Research and Innovation Advisor, Fédération des médecins spécialistes du Québec, Montréal, Québec, Canada. Dr. Mazmanian: Professor Emeritus, Department of Preventive Medicine and Community Health, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA. Dr. Williams: Clinical Program Director, Professional Renewal Centre, Lawrence, KS, and Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Kansas, Kansas City, KS. Ms. Besa: Information Specialist, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Dr. Sockalingam: Vice-President Education, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Department of Psychiatry, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and The Wilson Centre, University Health Network/University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Elemam RF, El Swiah JM, Durda AO, Hegazy NN. Cross-sectional study of attitudes toward online continuing dental education in Libya during the COVID-19 pandemic. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0296783. [PMID: 38198489 PMCID: PMC10781111 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0296783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
During the COVID-19 pandemic, many educational institutions switched to e-learning educational platforms. This approach was essential but raised challenges, particularly in training practitioners for medical emergencies. This approach not only led to global challenges and a need for rapid adaptation, but also raised inequities across countries, with some facing far more technical challenges than others. In Libya, low investment in education technology and unpredictable internet connectivity limited its integration into schools and universities even before the pandemic. The current study reports feedback from an online continuing dental education (CDE) course for dental practitioners that was developed emergently during the pandemic and aimed to address the challenges posed by Libya's internet environment. Participants were recruited through social media and received an 8-hour online CDE course consisting of three modules. Participants were invited to complete a pre-course demographic/informational survey on a Google form. After passing all modules, students were prompted to complete a post-course survey consisting of 23, five-point Likert scale questions. Respondents included 43 females (74.1%) and 15 males (25.9%). For ~50% of the cohort (n = 32), this was their first online clinical course. 87.9% of post-course participants rated the course as a positive learning experience, while 90.9% agreed their learning outcomes had been achieved. Most participants (97%) agreed the course instructor explained all concepts clearly. In total, 81.8% agreed that the technology effectively supported their learning. Most agreed that a clear demarcation between each course module existed and that the language and depth of the material were adequate. Some students reported technical difficulties, and 33.3% saw repetitions in the modules. However, all post-course respondents said they would recommend the online course to colleagues. Libyan dental practitioners showed high satisfaction levels towards the e-learning process, course content, instructors' attitudes, and overall e-learning experience despite the inherent e-learning challenges posed in this country.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ranya F. Elemam
- Department of Restorative Dental Sciences, Gulf Medical University, Ajman, UAE
| | - Jamal M. El Swiah
- Faculty of Dentistry, Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics Department, Misurata University, Misurata, Libya
| | | | - Nagwa N. Hegazy
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Family Medicine, Menoufia University, Menoufia, Egypt
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Boutros P, Kassem N, Nieder J, Jaramillo C, von Petersdorff J, Walsh FJ, Bärnighausen T, Barteit S. Education and Training Adaptations for Health Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Scoping Review of Lessons Learned and Innovations. Healthcare (Basel) 2023; 11:2902. [PMID: 37958046 PMCID: PMC10649637 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare11212902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Revised: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has considerably impacted the clinical education and training of health workers globally, causing severe disruptions to learning environments in healthcare facilities and limiting the acquisition of new clinical skills. Consequently, urgent adaptation measures, including simulation training and e-learning, have been implemented to mitigate the adverse effects of clinical education. This scoping review aims to assess the impact of COVID-19 on medical education and training, examine the implemented adaptation measures, and evaluate their effectiveness in improving health workers' education and training during the pandemic. Methods: Employing the PRISMA-ScR framework and Arksey and O'Malley's methodological guidance, we conducted a scoping review, systematically searching PubMed, medRxiv, Google, and DuckDuckGo databases to account for the grey literature. The search included studies published between 1 December 2019 and 13 October 2021, yielding 10,323 results. Of these, 88 studies focused on health worker education and training during the pandemic. Results: Our review incorporated 31,268 participants, including physicians, medical trainees, nurses, paramedics, students, and health educators. Most studies (71/88, 81%) were conducted in high-income and lower-middle-income countries. The pandemic's effects on health workers' clinical skills and abilities have necessitated training period extensions in some cases. We identified several positive outcomes from the implementation of simulation training and e-learning as adaptation strategies, such as enhanced technical and clinical performance, increased confidence and comfort, and an expanded global educational outreach. Conclusions: Despite challenges like insufficient practical experience, limited interpersonal interaction opportunities, and internet connectivity issues, simulation training, e-learning, and virtual training have proven effective in improving clinical education and training during the COVID-19 pandemic. Further research is required to bolster preparedness for future pandemics or similar situations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Perla Boutros
- Heidelberg Institute of Global Health (HIGH), Faculty of Medicine, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Nour Kassem
- Heidelberg Institute of Global Health (HIGH), Faculty of Medicine, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jessica Nieder
- Heidelberg Institute of Global Health (HIGH), Faculty of Medicine, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Catalina Jaramillo
- Heidelberg Institute of Global Health (HIGH), Faculty of Medicine, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jakob von Petersdorff
- Heidelberg Institute of Global Health (HIGH), Faculty of Medicine, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Fiona J Walsh
- Heidelberg Institute of Global Health (HIGH), Faculty of Medicine, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Till Bärnighausen
- Heidelberg Institute of Global Health (HIGH), Faculty of Medicine, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI), Somkhele, Mtubatuba 3935, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
- Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Sandra Barteit
- Heidelberg Institute of Global Health (HIGH), Faculty of Medicine, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
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Cheng C, Papadakos J, Umakanthan B, Fazelzad R, Martimianakis MA(T, Ugas M, Giuliani ME. On the advantages and disadvantages of virtual continuing medical education: a scoping review. CANADIAN MEDICAL EDUCATION JOURNAL 2023; 14:41-74. [PMID: 37465741 PMCID: PMC10351643 DOI: 10.36834/cmej.75681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/20/2023]
Abstract
Introduction With the COVID-19 pandemic, most continuing medical education activities became virtual (VCME). The authors conducted a scoping review to synthesize the advantages and disadvantages of VCME to establish the impact of this approach on inequities that physicians face along the intersections of gender, race, and location of practice. Methods Guided by the methodological framework of Arksey and O'Malley, the search included six databases and was limited to studies published between January 1991 to April 2021. Eligible studies included those related to accredited/non-accredited post-certification medical education, conferences, or meetings in a virtual setting focused on physicians. Numeric and inductive thematic analyses were performed. Results 282 studies were included in the review. Salient advantages identified were convenience, favourable learning formats, collaboration opportunities, effectiveness at improving knowledge and clinical practices, and cost-effectiveness. Prominent disadvantages included technological barriers, poor design, cost, lack of sufficient technological skill, and time. Analysis of the studies showed that VCME was most common in the general/family practice specialty, in suburban settings, and held by countries in the Global North. A minority of studies reported on gender (35%) and race (4%). Discussion Most studies report advantages of VCME, but disadvantages and barriers exist that are contextual to the location of practice and medical subspecialty. VCME events are largely organized by Global North countries with suboptimized accessibility for Global South attendees. A lack of reported data on gender and race reveals a limited understanding of how VCME affects vulnerable populations, prompting potential future considerations as it evolves.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Janet Papadakos
- Cancer Education Program, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Ontario, Canada
- The Institute for Education Research, University Health Network, Ontario, Canada
- Institute of Health Policy, Management & Evaluation, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ben Umakanthan
- Cancer Education Program, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Ontario, Canada
| | - Rouhi Fazelzad
- Library and Information Sciences, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Mohamed Ugas
- Cancer Education Program, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Ontario, Canada
| | - Meredith Elana Giuliani
- Cancer Education Program, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Ontario, Canada
- The Institute for Education Research, University Health Network, Ontario, Canada
- Radiation Medicine Program, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- The Wilson Centre, University Health Network, Ontario, Canada
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Kumar D, Varma J, Dongre A, Pandya H. Scoping review of published research on medical education in India during the Covid-19 pandemic. THE NATIONAL MEDICAL JOURNAL OF INDIA 2022; 35:243-246. [PMID: 36715036 DOI: 10.25259/nmji_636_21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Background Medical educators in India made rapid adjustments to maintain continuity and integrity of medical education in the midst of disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. However, there are concerns regarding achievement of competence by undergraduate medical students due to inadequate clinical exposure. We explored the focus of initiatives from medical educators in India by a scoping review of published articles on developments in medical education during the pandemic to map concepts, main sources and the literature available in PubMed. Methods We did this scoping review of published articles in PubMed database in four steps: (i) identification of research questions; (ii) identification of relevant studies; (iii) selection of studies meeting inclusion and exclusion criteria, and charting of data; and (iv) collating the summary and reporting of results. Manual content analysis was done to derive frequencies of variables. Results Of the 52 articles identified, 22 met the requirements. Most studies (68.2%) were published in 2020. Half of the studies were conducted among undergraduate students and the remaining among postgraduates (27.3%), faculty (18.2%) and interns (4.5%). All the studies were evaluations at Kirkpatrick level-1 (18; 81.8%) and level-2 (4; 18.2%). Most of the studies (9, 41%) focused on exploration of perspectives about online learning among students and faculty, 9 (27.3%) on teaching- learning, 4 (18.2%) on formative assessment and 3 (13.6%) on summative assessment. Conclusions Most studies were evaluations at Kirkpatrick level-1 and level-2 among undergraduate medical students with a focus on conceptual understanding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dinesh Kumar
- Department of Community Medicine, Pramukhswami Medical College, Bhaikaka University, Karamsad 388325, Gujarat, India
| | - Jagdish Varma
- Department of Psychiatry, Pramukhswami Medical College, Bhaikaka University, Karamsad 388325, Gujarat, India
| | - Amol Dongre
- Department of Community Medicine, Pramukhswami Medical College, Bhaikaka University, Karamsad 388325, Gujarat, India
| | - Himanshu Pandya
- Department of Medicine and Medical Education, Pramukhswami Medical College, Bhaikaka University, Karamsad 388325, Gujarat, India
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OUP accepted manuscript. Arch Clin Neuropsychol 2022; 37:1103-1117. [DOI: 10.1093/arclin/acac033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2021] [Revised: 04/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Ophthalmology Residents: A Narrative Review. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph182111567. [PMID: 34770081 PMCID: PMC8583285 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182111567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2021] [Revised: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
The ongoing outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has drastically affected medical societies. We aim to provide an overview and summarize the information published so far concerning the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on ophthalmology residency programs and the mental wellbeing of trainees, and to establish factors to help maintain successful residency training to ensure high-quality, specialist ophthalmic training. A literature search was conducted in October 2021 of the PubMed database for articles assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of ophthalmology trainees and on ophthalmology residency programs. Cross-sectional survey studies, editorials, articles in scientific journals, letters to editors, and commentaries were considered; finally, 19 studies were included after excluding abstract-only publications and conference posters. The studies’ demographic details, participant characteristics, interventions, outcomes, and limitations were extracted. Our summarized information showed the alarmingly significant impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on ophthalmology trainees’ mental health and the associated considerable changes in ophthalmic training programs. Thus, in future, virtual training and surgical simulators should be permanently introduced, in addition to traditional teaching, to complete successful ophthalmology residency programs. Additionally, we emphasize the need for a widely facilitated and encouraged access to psychological support programs for healthcare workers, including ophthalmologists.
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Yong WWD, Koh TCV, Shen L, Misra DK, Leung WYJ, Chandrasekaran S, Chou HD, Ang HNM, Wong CW. A survey of young ophthalmologists' perception of training in Asia during COVID-19. ANNALS OF THE ACADEMY OF MEDICINE, SINGAPORE 2021; 50:729-732. [PMID: 34625763 DOI: 10.47102/annals-acadmedsg.202146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Wei Wei Dayna Yong
- Department of Ophthalmology, National University Health System, Singapore
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Teaching and Learning during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Topic Modeling Study. EDUCATION SCIENCES 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/educsci11070347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused significant disruption to teaching and learning activities at all levels. Faculty, students, institutions, and parents have had to rapidly adapt and adopt measures to make the best use of available resources, tools and teaching strategies. While much of the online teaching pedagogies have been theoretically and practically explored to a limited extent, the scale at which these were deployed was unprecedented. This has led a large number of researchers to share challenges, solutions and knowledge gleaned during this period. The main aim of this work was to thematically model the literature related to teaching and learning during, and about, COVID-19. Abstracts and metadata of literature were extracted from Scopus, and topic modeling was used to identify the key research themes. The research encompassed diverse scientific disciplines, including social sciences, computer science, and life sciences, as well as learnings in support systems, including libraries, information technology, and mental health. The following six key themes were identified: (i) the impact of COVID-19 on higher education institutions, and challenges faced by these institutions; (ii) the use of various tools and teaching strategies employed by these institutions; (iii) the teaching and learning experience of schools and school teachers; (iv) the impact of COVID-19 on the training of healthcare workers; (v) the learnings about COVID-19, and treatment strategies from patients; and (vi) the mental health of students as a result of COVID-19 and e-learning. Regardless of the key themes, what stood out was the inequities in education as a result of the digital divide. This has had a huge impact not only in middle- and low-income nations, but also in several parts of the developed world. Several important lessons have been learned, which, no doubt, will be actively incorporated into teaching and learning practices and teacher training. Nonetheless, the full effect of these unprecedented educational adaptions on basic education, expert training, and mental health of all stakeholders is yet to be fully fathomed.
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