Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the training of doctors in the period 2020- 2021: a qualitative study based on the perception of teachers and students.

Abstract

Background: The pandemic, due to COVID-19, generated an impact in all areas and education has not been exempt; causing the need to reconfigure the training process, requiring the academic community to explore new strategies and methodologies for teaching and learning, being distance education, the alternative of the moment.

Materials and methods: Qualitative study with a hermeneutic approach of a comprehensive and interpretative nature. The study is made up of university teachers and students from the Faculty of Medical Sciences of the National University of Asunción. The unit of analysis consisted of the locutions or information from the subjects of the study. As for the technique, a semi-structured interview was used, in virtual mode, with teachers of the FCM - UNA in first, second and third year 2021; as well as a virtual questionnaire given to the students.

Results: 45 students and 10 teachers were surveyed, 51.1% of the participants reside in the Central Department. Of the respondents, 66.6% rated the virtual academic experience in the context of the COVID 19 pandemic as negative. 53.3% of the respondents stated that their academic performance has worsened since the implementation of virtuality as a teaching methodology. All the teachers agreed that they were not prepared for a change in teaching methodology; their greatest difficulty lies in the teacher-student relationship. The lack of IT infrastructure was highlighted by all the doctors during the interview.

Conclusion: The research reveals that both students and teachers at the FCM-UNA Central branch perceive the negative impact of the pandemic on the training of doctors due to the lack of time to plan effective e-learning methodologies. However, they also recognise strengths such as time management, the possibility of reviewing recorded classes and the development of self-learning skills.