Academic Performance in Medical Education During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Scoping Review

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Academic Performance
• COVID-19 Research

Background:

• Academic performance studies in non-medical fields during COVID-19 yielded inconsistent results.
• Research on medical students' academic performance during the pandemic is emerging.
• Understanding trends is crucial for medical education adaptation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and summarize research trends in medical education concerning student academic performance during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• To map existing research and pinpoint knowledge gaps.
• To provide insights into the impact of the pandemic on medical students' academic achievement.

Main Methods:

• A scoping review was conducted using the Arksey and O'Malley framework.
• Searches encompassed six databases (PubMed, ProQuest, EBSCOhost, ERIC, Science Direct, Google Scholar).
• Keywords included COVID-19, academic performance, academic achievement, medical education, and medical students.

Main Results:

• 24 publications were analyzed, primarily using cohort designs, from Asia, America, and Europe.
• 11 studies compared academic performance pre- and during the pandemic; results were mixed (3 lower grades, 3 higher grades).
• 20 studies identified factors influencing academic performance, with 12 key variables noted.

Conclusions:

• Medical students' academic performance showed variability before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Twelve distinct variables were identified as influencing medical students' academic performance during the pandemic.
• Further research is needed to fully understand and address these influencing factors.