Challenges and Opportunities of Virtual Education in Medical Sciences During and after the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Alireza Arefzadeh* and Davood Dalil

Introduction: The education system of medical sciences faced significant problems with the emergence of the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). In this article, we highlight the obstacles and opportunities that medical students faced during their education during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: We conducted a literature search on scientific databases to identify papers reporting science educational challenges and opportunities in virtual medical education during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Results: The review of the studies determined that virtual education is appropriate in reducing the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and preventing medical students from falling academically; however, it is associated with some advantages and disadvantages. Educational, cultural, economic, and time benefits, helping to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, not wasting time due to not needing to travel, the possibility of communicating with international professors, preventing medical students from dropping out, and access to course presentation files are available on virtual networks at any time. Lack of possibility to communicate with students, lack of focus on education, possibility of cheating in virtual examinations, inactivity, higher prevalence of weight gain, obesity, and diabetes mellitus, inability to control students' attention, lack of access to the Internet, and particular limitations because of the high volume of content of textbooks in social networks.

Conclusion: Although the disease of COVID-19 has caused a challenge to education, it provides suitable opportunities for the continuation and foundation of virtual education and to prevent academic failure in the era of COVID-19 and post-COVID-19.

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