Medical education in COVID-19 pandemic: medical students' point of view

Abstract

Introduction: With the current reality that we are experiencing with the beginning of the new coronavirus (nCov) pandemic, everyone is dealing with new challenges. Among these, there are medical students, with their practical activities interrupted and many concerns. Objective: This article portrays the experience of medical students attending internship and the impact of the pandemic on medical education. Discussion: Among the multiple issues that students have been experiencing, there is a duality between the desire to engage in the fight against the pandemic and the fear of contamination of their friends and family. Furthermore, there is an increasing offer of online content, such as courses, congresses, and discoveries regarding COVID-19. With the massive adoption of Open and Distance Learning, the student faces the duality between traditional and active teaching methods, in addition to fear about the interruption of practical activities and the question of when they will be re-established. Finally, there are concerns about the students’ future: when and how they will complete the medical course, and the preparation for Medical Residency Exams. Conclusion: It is clear that the pandemic is significantly affecting already concerned medical students, in multiple aspects of their lives, about their training and completion of the course.