Reimagining rural clinical education from lessons learnt during COVID

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Rural Health
• Digital Health

Background:

• Securing sufficient clinical learning experiences is a challenge for medical trainees.
• The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated these challenges due to lockdowns and increased telehealth.
• There is a need to optimize educational responses for limited clinical learning experiences.

Purpose of the Study:

• To understand how to sustain medical trainees' education in rural general practices.
• To identify strategies for optimizing clinical learning experiences amidst disruptions.
• To inform improved provision of trainee experiences in rural settings.

Main Methods:

• Semi-structured interviews were conducted with medical practice teams.
• Four rural general practices participated in the study.
• The research focused on sustaining medical trainee education during challenging circumstances.

Main Results:

• Optimizing available experiences is key for trainees to develop mental models for medical work.
• Remote and physically distanced consultations require adapted learning strategies.
• Lessons learned during COVID-19 lockdowns can improve trainee experiences.

Conclusions:

• Full trainee participation in clinical activities is imperative.
• A sequenced approach can prepare trainees for remote clinical consultations using digital technologies.
• This pathway prioritizes positive trainee outcomes while ensuring patient care and safety.