Document Type : Original Article
Authors
Clinical Education Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‑19) has turned attention to the
essential competencies needed to confront pandemics for a physician. However, medical students,
as future physicians, are not adequately trained for such a situation. This study aimed to determine
the essential competencies for a medical student to face the COVID‑19 pandemic.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed this mixed‑method needs assessment study at Shiraz
University of Medical Sciences in May–June 2020 in three steps: the first step was a brainstorming
session followed by a nominal group technique with the experts’ participation. The second step
was determining the validity of competencies by calculating the content validity ratio. In the third
and last step, three rounds of the modified Delphi technique were held with the participation of
22 medical faculty members and 45 undergraduate medical students to reach a consensus about
the competencies utilizing quantitative analysis.
RESULTS: A total of 30 key competencies essential for a medical student were obtained through the
current study. They were categorized into four major themes: (1) developing knowledge and abilities
for effective diagnosis and treatment of COVID‑19, (2) demonstrating safety principles correctly,
(3) demonstrating effective behavior, and (4) determining the meta‑competencies.
CONCLUSIONS: Although medical students will be the frontline physicians in the future pandemics, they
are not prepared to display the diversity of requisite skills to practice effectively and safely. This study
provides essential competencies for medical students during the COVID‑19 pandemic and underlines
the importance of a paradigm shift from traditional time‑based to competency‑based education.
Keywords
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