Online medical education during the pandemic in different countries

Abstract

Abstract: Introduction: At the end of 2019, one of the great challenges of the 21st century emerged, affecting the whole world. The long period in isolation made people adapt to the way they work and study, and this same measure was taken in the medical course, bringing new methodologies and learning. Objective: To analyze, through an Integrative Review, data on how the process of adapting online medical education was carried out during the pandemic. Methods: This is an Integrative Literature Review and data search was conducted in the PubMed, Virtual Health Library (BVS), Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES), Scientific Electronic Library Online (SCIELO) and Latin American and Caribbean Literature on Health Sciences (LILACS) databases. The search began in July 2021. Results: Initially, with the application of the inclusion criteria, a total of 841 articles were obtained from the selected databases. After excluding duplicate articles, this number was reduced to 242 articles. After applying the exclusion criteria, 22 articles were selected for the study. Conclusion: It is known that Medicine is mostly a practical course, the physical contact of students with patients is essential to develop essential skills for a quality physician, both in medical semiology techniques and in the skills necessary to establish the doctor-patient relationship. However, the need for a way of learning arose with the pandemic and teaching could not stop. In view of the points raised in the literature research, the common sense would be the application of a hybrid teaching method - online and face-to-face - (aimed at optimizing time and breaking geographic barriers, without neglecting the importance of clinical practice), exceptionally online (when there are extraordinary situations, such as the COVID-19 pandemic) or only in person (in regions where the application of e-learning is not feasible).