Geburtshilfe Frauenheilkd 2022; 82(10): e149
DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-1757017
Abstracts | DGGG

The COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on medical teaching in obstetrics and gynecology – A nationwide expert survey among teaching coordinators at German university hospitals

M Riedel
1   Klinikum rechts der Isar, TU Munich, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Munich, Deutschland
,
N Amann
2   Friedrich–Alexander-University Erlangen–Nuremberg (FAU), Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Erlangen, Deutschland
,
F Recker
3   Bonn University Hospital, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Bonn, Deutschland
,
M Weiss
4   University of Tübingen, Department of Women’s Health, Tuebingen, Deutschland
,
F Riedel
5   Heidelberg University Hospital, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Heidelberg, Deutschland
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Purpose The COVID-19 pandemic has imposed severe challenges on medical education at German university hospitals. In this first German nationwide expert survey, we addressed the responsible university teaching coordinators in obstetrics and gynecology departments and investigated their experiences during the pandemic as well as their opinions on future developments, especially with regard to the broader implementation of e-learning in the standard curriculum.

Methods The questionnaire was disseminated among teaching coordinators at all 41 departments of obstetrics and gynecology at German university hospitals. Responses were collected between 19 April and 7 June 2021.

Results In total, 30 responses were collected from 41 departments across Germany and their respective teaching coordinators in obstetrics and gynecology. The general opinion of the medical teaching provided during the pandemic was positive, whereas the teaching quality in practical skills was considered inferior and not equivalent to the standard face-to-face curriculum. Lectures and seminars had to be substituted by remote-learning alternatives, while clinical clerkships were reduced in length and provided less patient contact. Students in their final year experienced only a few differences in the clinical and teaching routine. Teaching coordinators in obstetrics and gynecology stated that they intend to incorporate more e-learning into the curriculum in the future.

Summary Medical educators in obstetrics and gynecology at German university hospitals have successfully established online and hybrid teaching alternatives to their standard face-to-face courses. Building on recent experiences, digitalization could help to improve future medical education.

The manuscript is submitted and currently under revision in PLOS ONE journal.



Publication History

Article published online:
11 October 2022

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