Caribbean Medical Journal (Jan 2023)
Attitudes of Caribbean undergraduate medical students towards e-learning of orthopaedics during the Covid-19 pandemic
Abstract
Objective To determine undergraduate medical students’ attitudes to e-learning of orthopaedics implemented due to lockdowns resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic. Methods An anonymised online survey was distributed to all final year medical students at The University of the West Indies (UWI) in Trinidad after completing the distance-learning module of the Trauma and Orthopaedics clerkship. Results Sixty-seven completed questionnaires were analysed, response rate 32.7% (67/205). There were 37 female students (55.2%), with a mean age of 24.7 years (range 22 - 44 years, SD 3.13). Although all students were familiar with e-learning platforms, only 44.8% had previously used e-learning resources. Minimising exposure to Covid-19 was identified as the most significant benefit of e-learning (17.9%, n=12). Other advantages included being able to work at their own pace and style of learning (11.9%, n=8), ease of access to teaching material (10.5%, n=7), and equity of resources (10.5%, n=7). The greatest disadvantages to e-learning were loss of direct interaction with patients (26.9%, n=18) and lack of privacy at home (19.4%, n=13). Most students (71.6%, n=48) were satisfied with e-learning; however, the majority (67.2%, n=45) felt that this method could not singularly achieve clinical competence. Conclusion E-learning was widely accepted by students as an effective method of curriculum delivery but insufficient for mastering the clinical skills required to be a competent doctor. The use of blended programmes which combine e-learning and traditional bedside teaching should be encouraged in the post-pandemic future.
