Medical Education Online:Remote Training Practice During the Covid-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Background: During the current COVID-19 pandemic, offline medical education was mandated to suspend at the teaching departments of medical colleges, so the teaching was done online , yet there is insufficient evidence regarding the preferred practice and methods for online training .Objective: The investigation aimed to examine whether the online training and blending learning mode can achieve a good effect and cater for students and whether the learning group size affects the teaching effect.Design: The subjects were 150 students. After completing the online course, the final scores and evaluation results were compared, and their preference to distinct contents of the course was analyzed. Statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS program (version 22.0).Results: Our online course received consistent positive recognition from the students. Ninety-nine percent of the students recommended incorporating the online course into the conventional offline training program after the pandemic. There was no significant difference concerning the final scores and course evaluation. A smaller learning group size (<25 students) could achieve a better teaching effect than a larger group size (p < 0.05). The students preferred interactive discussions, and course contents that they can get practice and feedback from, rather than video watching and didactic lectures.Conclusion: The online training course and blending learning mode is worthy of popularization in a large student base. The teaching effect of an online training program may be improved by limiting the group size to less than 25 students and encouraging more interactive discussion, more practice and feedback.