Medical students' perception of online intensive pediatric review: an experimental cross-sectional study

Sirikarn Tangcheewinsirikul; Preyanit Takkinsatian; Patcha Yenjabog; Ornatcha Sirimongkolchaiyakul; Pathaporn Prempraparn

doi:10.1186/s12909-023-04757-5

Medical students' perception of online intensive pediatric review: an experimental cross-sectional study

BMC Med Educ. 2023 Oct 19;23(1):777. doi: 10.1186/s12909-023-04757-5.

Authors

Sirikarn Tangcheewinsirikul¹, Preyanit Takkinsatian¹, Patcha Yenjabog¹, Ornatcha Sirimongkolchaiyakul¹, Pathaporn Prempraparn²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine Vajira Hospital, Navamindradhiraj University, 681 Samsen Road, Dusit, Bangkok, 10300, Thailand.
² Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine Vajira Hospital, Navamindradhiraj University, 681 Samsen Road, Dusit, Bangkok, 10300, Thailand. pathaporn@nmu.ac.th.

Abstract

Background: Despite regular pediatric education, pediatric instructors regularly provide an on-site intensive pediatric review course (IPR) as per medical students (MS)' request, to summarize pediatric knowledge for fifth-year MS in preparation for their externship. However, considering the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic restrictions (e.g., social distancing), an online intensive pediatric review (OIPR) is required instead. Unfortunately, the relationship between MS' perception and outcome of OIPR remains unclear.

Methods: We developed the OIPR and an online mock pediatric examination (OMPE), aligning it with the essential pediatric components of the Medical Council curriculum. The OIPR comprised of two parts: self-paced online learning and in-class online discussions. The self-paced online learning materials were electronically distributed via Google Classroom to MS ten days priors to the one-day course, which included a pretest, in-class online discussions, posttest, and satisfactory survey. The constructed and validated satisfactory survey was categorized into two parts: demographic data and self-perceived satisfaction with OIPR. For data collection, an anonymous self-administered survey was used and was distributed to MS in April 2022. These data were then analyzed by Wilcoxon signed rank test.

Results: Of the 80 eligible fifth-year MS, 45 agreed to participate (56.3%), of which 24 (53.3%) were females. The mean ± standard deviation (SD) of MS' age was 23 ± 0.6 years. All (100%) concurred that OIPR is beneficial and recommended it to junior students who were planning to take the examination. The mean ± SD of OMPE significantly increased, from 20.9 ± 3.8 to 22.9 ± 3.3 (p = 0.001).

Conclusion: During the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, which required social distancing, OIPR has helped MS summarize and enhance their knowledge in preparation for externship and the examination.

Keywords: Medical students; Online education; Pediatrics; Perception; Undergraduate students.

MeSH terms

Adult
COVID-19* / epidemiology
Child
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
Humans
Male
Pandemics
Perception
Students, Medical*
Surveys and Questionnaires
Young Adult