Impact of SARS-COV-2 pandemic on medical education: "compulsory" migration for elearning modality, preliminary insights from medical education managers

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic affected the educational models offered in medical courses. In this context, with the authorization to offer courses remotely, there is an unprecedented acceleration in the migration from the traditional model to the eLearning model, which was already occurring gradually in the Brazilian higher education system. Due to the social isolation to face the crisis, this model is being applied in full in many Higher-educational institutions (HEIs) in the country and may have repercussions on methodological changes in medical education. OBJECTIVES: To discuss the impact of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on medical education, analyzing the migration to eLearning Modality. METHOD: A reflection was made from management meetings at two private universities based on the authors' experience in medical education management. RESULTS: The global pandemic context has impacted teaching within the scope of students, professors, and HEIs. The high investments in the migration of the teaching model and the high dropout rate have impacted the suspension of contracts for teachers from private HEIs. The inequality of technological access, unsuitable environments, and the poor quality of telephony/internet in the country can impact on academic performance. CONCLUSIONS: It is undeniable that medical education is suffering a profound transformation by this global health crisis. However, it is too early to say with certainty the size of this impact. In the future, it will be necessary to adapt the concept of evidence-based medical education to assess the practical repercussions of this pandemic in medical education.