Head-Mounted Cameras in Virtual Clinical Learning.

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Digital Health
• Clinical Training

Background:

• COVID-19 pandemic disrupted traditional clinical workplace learning due to social distancing.
• A Virtual Clinic was developed to maintain authentic patient contact and team interaction for medical students.
• The goal was to create virtual teaching activities for real-time patient care, peer learning, and feedback.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a Virtual Clinic in supporting medical student education during pandemic-related restrictions.
• To assess student engagement, learning, and sense of team integration within a virtual clinical environment.
• To explore the potential of virtual bedside learning for future medical education.

Main Methods:

• A Virtual Clinic was established with live video links to a hospital ward.
• Medical students used head-mounted cameras during clinical activities (rounds, visits, consultations) while peers observed remotely.
• Educational design incorporated authentic and active learning strategies, with remote students contributing to discussions and documentation.

Main Results:

• Twenty-seven medical students participated in the Virtual Clinic during their internal medicine clerkship.
• Students found Virtual Patient Rounds and Teaching Visits engaging and intellectually stimulating.
• Despite remote participation, students reported a strong sense of integration within the medical team, with connectivity issues noted as a limitation.

Conclusions:

• The Virtual Clinic successfully supported clinical education continuity during pandemic restrictions.
• This innovative approach fostered student autonomy and enhanced team integration.
• The Virtual Clinic model is transferable to other disciplines and contexts, highlighting potential for virtual bedside learning beyond the pandemic.