Medical Student Concerns Relating to Neurosurgery Education During COVID-19

Abstract

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has created significant obstacles within medical education. For medical students interested in pursuing neurosurgery as a specialty, the educational policies surrounding COVID-19 have resulted in unique challenges. The present study used a nationwide survey to identify the concerns of medical students interested in pursuing neurosurgery during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: Students who had previously registered for medical student neurosurgery training camps were sent an online Qualtrics survey requesting them to assess how the COVID-19 pandemic was affecting their neurosurgical education. The Pearson χ² test and post hoc pairwise Fisher exact test were used for analysis of categorical variables, and the 2-tailed paired Student t test was used for continuous variables.

Results: The survey was distributed to 852 medical students, with 127 analyzed responses. Concerns regarding conferences and networking opportunities (63%), clinical experience (59%), and board examination scores (42%) were most frequently cited. Of the third-year medical students, 76% reported ≥1 cancelled or postponed neurosurgery rotation. On average, students were more likely to take 1 year off from medical school after than before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, measured from 0 to 100 (25.3 ± 36.0 vs. 39.5 ± 37.5; P = 0.004). Virtual mentorship pairing was the highest rated educational intervention suggested by first- and second-year medical students. The third- and fourth-year medical students had cited virtual surgical skills workshops most frequently.

Conclusions: The results from the present nationwide survey have highlighted the concerns of medical students regarding their neurosurgery education during the COVID-19 pandemic. With these findings, neurosurgery organizations can consider targeted plans for students of each year to continue their education and development.

Keywords: COVID-19; Concerns; Education; Medical student; Neurosurgery; Residency; Training camp.

Figure 1

Map showing the number of respondents from 56 medical institutions within 27 states across the United States.

Figure 2

Bar graphs showing aspects of neurosurgical residency application students expect to be most affected by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) policies stratified by medical student year. Students in their PhD or research year (n = 16) were excluded for better visualization. M1, first year medical students; M2, second-year medical students; M3, third-year medical students; M4, fourth-year medical students.

Figure 3

Bar graph showing effect of institution-specific coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) policies on the progress of ongoing laboratory-based and clinical research.

Figure 4

Bar graphs showing self-reported likelihood score (0, not taking 1 year off; 100, certainly taking 1 year off) for taking 1 year off from medical school before and after the start of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) stratified by medical student year (n = 112). Respondents reported they were more likely to take 1 year off after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic than they were previously for each medical student year. However, the differences were not statistically significant when analyzed by each individual year. Plotted values represent the mean self-reported likelihood score. Error bars represent the standard error. M1, first year medical students; M2, second-year medical students; M3, third-year medical students; M4, fourth-year medical students.

Figure 5

Bar graph showing potential educational programs students would prefer to see neurosurgical organizations offer. Students in PhD or research year (n = 16) were excluded for better visualization. M1, first year medical students; M2, second-year medical students; M3, third-year medical students; M4, fourth-year medical students.