Medical Education in Times of Pandemic: To Practice or to Protect?

Introduction: In the beginning of March 2020 with first case of COVID-19 reported in Turkey, measures that were assumed to decrease the spread of SARS-CoV-2 were taken quickly. Use of personel protective equipments and limiting number of people contacting with the patients were some of the most important precautions. Although these precautions protected medical student from risk of infection, they limited their practical learning oportunities and probably negatively effected their education. Aim of our study was to measure the effect of pandemic on medical education of grade 6 medical students. Materials and Methods: We had 6th grade medical students that finished their education between July 2020 and June 2021 fill out a questionnaire that measures their self-esteem on evaluation and procedural practice in pediatric patients and presents their subjective opinions on this period and their solution suggestions with closed and open ended questions. Results: Forty nine grade 6 student was included in the study. Their self-esteem was average (general competency in pediatric patients was 2.31±0.94 and general self reported competency in clinical practices was 2.65±1.42). The practice they feel most confident was hand washing (4.44±1.16), and the practice the feel least confident was establishment of vascular access (1.94±1.09). When they were asked to evaluate their self-competency in pediatric patients from 1 to 5,the procedure they most frequently observed was establishment of vascular access (74%) and least frequently observed was lumbar puncture (12%). Most frequently performed procedure was urinary catheterization (20%). 80.9% them stated that they felt unlucky to be 6th grade in COVID-19 pandemic and they would like to have more opportunities to contact with the patients with personal protective equipment (PPE). Conclusion: Education of 6th grade medical students affected negatively with decreasing number and diversity of patients and limited opportunity to evaluate patients and observe and perform procedures. Improvements should be made in pediatric departments to increase possibility of student to encounter patients and continue hands on learning with the right precautions.