Akshara Mavunkal Thampan1, Davis Thomas Pulimoottil2, Angel Cham Philip3
doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.5195/ijms.2020.775
Volume 8, Number 3: 314-315
Received 10 10 2020: Rev-request 24 11 2020: Rev-request 27 11 2020: Rev-recd 26 11 2020: Rev-recd 08 12 2020: Accepted 08 12 2020
It was a pleasure for us to read the article titled “Survey among medical students during COVID-19 lockdown-The Online Class Dilemma” by Thomas et al. in your esteemed journal.1 It is a succinctly written article and we would like to commend the authors on their excellent effort. It is significant in the present scenario and we would like to mention a few points that we feel would further enrich the article.
The major disruption brought on students and teachers in tertiary education by the pandemic in low- and middle-income countries was primarily by the sudden shift from the traditional classroom learning to e-learning without any extensive planning and faculty training.2 In a low middle income country like India, a vast majority of students are underprivileged to access the e-learning facilities, as it will cost them extra in the form of data, gadgets and other paid e-learning platforms and therefore, the equitable distribution of knowledge to all is affected. To overcome this prejudice, special schemes for students which provide a certain amount of free daily data to attend online classes and technical training on online education may be considered by the government. It was also reported that teachers, especially female faculty, were facing difficulties in finding a work-life balance as a result of the abrupt onset and extent of impact that the pandemic has brought on our lives. Having a frank open discussion with all stakeholders would greatly assist in designing a more practical and organized work schedule with flexible hours and appropriate breaks, which would be beneficial to all.
Medical students, in general, will also be concerned about acquiring practical clinical skills which cannot be provided through e-learning. The drastic reduction in their patient contact time, time spent in wards learning clinical skills and bedside teaching may have a negative impact on the confidence of medical students in regard to their future career skills. They are also worried about the indefinite extension of their courses, as universities have failed to provide any meaningful clarity in their official statements. Immediate measures, such as the use of standardized patients, conducting mock clinics, timely conduct of exams and phased reopening of medical schools, need to be instituted effectively to address the fears of these groups so that the efforts of online education may bear fruit.3
Medical students are a natural reservoir of volunteers and they offer a vast wealth of potential which can be put to use in these times of crisis.4 However, to harness this potential, the medical students should be prepared adequately to face the crisis. Inclusion of “pandemic/crisis specific” content in the medical curriculum and restructuring it accordingly may prove to be helpful in tackling these situations in future.5 These proactive measures will also help the students to complete their transition from a ‘student' to a ‘doctor' less challenging.
None.
The Authors have no funding, financial relationships or conflicts of interest to disclose.
Conceptualization, Supervision, Writing – Original Draft Preparation & Writing – Review & Editing: AMT, DTP, ACP.
1. Thomas A, Shenoy MT, Shenoy KT, Kumar SS, Sidheeque A, Khovidh C, et al. Survey among medical students during COVID-19 lockdown: the online class dilemma. Int J Med Students. 2020 May-Aug;8(2):102-6.
2. Dutta S, Smita MK. The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on tertiary education in Bangladesh: students' perspectives. Open J Soc Sci. 2020 Sep;8(9):53-68.
3. Farooq F, Rathore FA, Mansoor SN. Challenges of online medical education in Pakistan during COVID-19 pandemic. J Coll Physicians Surg Pak. 2020 Jun;30(6):67-9.
4. O'Connor-Terry C, Gowda T, Zuchelkowski B, Minney S, Kwon J. Medical students have a powerful role in addressing community needs in the COVID-19 pandemic: An experience from the US. Int J Med Students. 2020 Jan-Apr;8(1):70-2.
5. O'Byrne L, Gavin B, McNicholas F. Medical students and COVID-19: the need for pandemic preparedness. J Med Ethics 2020 Sep;46(9):623-6.
Akshara Mavunkal Thampan, 1 Medical student, Al Azhar Medical College and Super Speciality Hospital, India
Davis Thomas Pulimoottil, 2 MS, ENT. Al Azhar Medical College and Super Speciality Hospital, India
Angel Cham Philip, 3 MD, Pediatrics. Al Azhar Medical College and Super Speciality Hospital, India
About the Author: Akshara Mavunkal Thampan is currently a third-year medical student of Al Azhar Medical College and Super Speciality Hospital, Ezhalloor, Thodupuzha, Idukki district, Kerala, India, of a total 5.5-year program.
Correspondence: Angel Cham Philip. Address: Thodupuzha - Ezhalloor Rd, Kumaramangalam, Kerala 685605, India. Email: angel.ffe@gmail.com
Editor: Francisco J. Bonilla-Escobar Student Editors: Colleen Campbell, Vinson Chan Proofreader: Leah Komer Layout Editor: Annora A. Kumar
Cite as: Thampan AM, Pulimoottil DT, Philip AC. Letter to the Editor Regarding "Survey among Medical Students during COVID-19 Lockdown: The Online Class Dilemma". Int J Med Students. 2020 Sep-Dec;8(3):314-5.
Copyright © 2020 Akshara Mavunkal Thampan, Davis Thomas Pulimoottil, Angel Cham Philip
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
International Journal of Medical Students, VOLUME 8, NUMBER 3, December 2020