INTRODUCTION: The COVID-19 pandemic forced Philippine medical schools to adapt their curriculum design to fit an online setup. This study aimed to analyze and interpret the lived experiences of medical students who experienced online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic and to explore the adaptations to online learning. METHODS: This is an interpretive phenomenological study using purposive sampling. Participants were 1st to 3rd year medical students enrolled for Academic Year 2020-2021. Participants were interviewed online by a psychologist who was not part of the research team using a 13-question guide. The interviews were recorded and transcribed. Interview data were analyzed and interpreted using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). RESULTS: Nine medical students were interviewed. The IPA identified six superordinate themes: 1) positive adaptations through positive reframing; 2) resulting mental health concerns; 3) intrinsic and extrinsic concerns encountered; 4) self-awareness as a first step towards adjustment; 5) dual role of family; and 6) perceptions on systemic response. CONCLUSION Online medical education during the pandemic resulted in problems and mental health concerns among participants, and many developed self-awareness and positive adaptations specific to the online setup. Participants’ families helped some adjust, while others posed an additional challenge. Both positive and negative perceptions of the systemic response of the school also arose.

Introduction: During the COVID-19 pandemic, medical schools shifted to blended learning. This study aimed to determine the demographic and level of confidence of a private medical school’s clinical clerks of School Year 2021-2022 on general competencies and skills. Methods: The study aimed to identify the skills that exhibited the highest and lowest levels of confidence among a group of 139 clinical clerks. Additionally, it sought to examine whether there were significant differences in confidence levels based on sex and prior clinical experience. An analytical cross-sectional study design was employed using a Google Form as the data collection tool. Results: The clerks were most confident in handwashing, and least in NGT insertion, performing digital rectal examination (DRE), and suturing. Females were more confident in history taking of obstetric and gynecologic, surgical, and medical patients, physical examination of pediatric patients, and preparing a discharge summary, while males were more confident in performing digital rectal examination. Clerks with prior medical experience were significantly more confident in foley catheter insertion, intravenous insertion, blood extraction, suturing, and performing essential intrapartum and newborn care (EINC) than those without. The results aligned with previous studies since clerks with prior experience were able to practice the skills in a psychomotor sense. Conclusion The study revealed significant differences in the confidence level on the competencies and skills for medical practice between sex and prior medical experience.
Clinical Competence