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

Abstract

Backgrounds:Several academic performance studies during the COVID-19 pandemic on education outside medicine showed varying results. This scoping review aims to identify research trends in medical education that focus on the academic performance of medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic to enable available research to be mapped and summarized, and gaps in research results can be identified. Methods: The authors applied the Arksey and O'Malley framework to conduct the scoping review. This review was conducted from January to 30 May 2022. Comprehensive article searches were conducted on six databases (PubMed, ProQuest, EBSCOhost, ERIC, Science Direct, Google Scholar) using keywords of COVID-19, academic performance, academic achievement, medical education, and medical students. Results: A literature search identified 24 publications eligible for analysis. The cohort is the most chosen research design. The publications were only taken from three continents; those were from Asia, America, and Europe. Most of the publications came from the Asian continent, and most of the participants involved in the studies were undergraduates. Eleven out of 24 publications reported on the impact of research before and during the COVID-19 pandemic on academic performance. Six out of 11 studies showed differences in results. Three studies indicated that students achieved lower grades during the COVID-19 pandemic. In contrast, three other studies reported that students got higher grades during the COVID-19 pandemic. Twenty studies reported the influencing factors of the academic performance. Conclusion:The literatures reported differences in medical students' academic performance before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Twelve variables affected medical students' academic performance during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Correlation between attitude towards dental care for older adults and ageism in dental students and clinical trainees: Cross‐sectional study

“…Thus, they did not have sufficient clinical training in geriatric dentistry, suggesting that it may be an influence on their ageism. The impact of COVID‐19 pandemic on medical education remain controversial 28 . To evaluate the impact on gerodontology and geriatric education, the ASDS‐J will be useful to compare between during and post pandemic.…”

“…This study was conducted with the approval of the Medical Ethics Committee of Kyushu Dental University (No. [21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31]. The responses were anonymous, and the participants had the right to opt out of the survey.…”

“…The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on medical education remain controversial. 28 To evaluate the impact on gerodontology and geriatric education, the ASDS-J will be useful to compare between during and post pandemic.…”

A cross‐sectional study of online learning during the COVID‐19 pandemic: Student perceptions

“…4 What were the expectations in terms of achievements and unfulfillment of results? 5 Did the transition to online study during the COVID-19 pandemic affect their health? Initially, we tested the validity of our questions by sending them to some experts in the field for their feedback.…”

“…On the other hand, many others, particularly public education, are thoroughly embedded in the traditional manner of teaching. For more than 2 years, the abrupt COVID‐19 epidemic triggered by the Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 virus has caused an unprecedented threat to global public health by making people unable to live a better lifestyle and education 5 . Many countries around the world took extreme measures accompanied by social distancing and restrictions on contact among people 6 …”