Gauging the effects of COVID-related changes to the medical student surgical clerkship experience: a mixed-methods study

This study sought to understand the medical student experience on restructured surgical clerkship during COVID-era provide guidance for future scenarios affecting participation in clinical activities. Medical students completing an anonymous 70-question survey at conclusion of their from June 2019 October 2020 were divided into 2 cohorts: prior March and after 2020. Quantitative assessment was performed evaluate performance perceptions. Resulting findings used construct interview guide conduct semi-structured interviews. Fifty-nine rotated through COVID 23 COVID-era. No differences perception clerkship, essential activities, or shelf examination scores found. Students reported a lower interaction professional relationships with attending resident surgeons (p = 0.03). Qualitatively, struggled balance experiences personal wellness noted that building faculty substantially more difficult. There does not appear be difference level activities nor diminished learning between before pandemic. However, there formed surgeons. Altered didactic structures apprenticeship-type rotations may help mitigate such effects.