role of students at the time of carona pendamic
Answers
Never before have we seen a lockdown of such scale and magnitude, at least in our lifetime. It is our only way to fight the virus and prevent its spread, at least for as long as we don’t develop a vaccine for it. Until then, we have to find ways to carry on our work from the confines of our homes. Technology provides us with the means to do that in a very successful manner.
Explanation:
The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the Education sector worldwide, affecting the regular operation of the schools of medicine and health sciences. Unlike other disciplines, during a contingency, the teachers and students together play an active role in the work of the profession (1). Therefore, it is time to rethink the role that health professionals play while in training, not only in maintaining the continuity of their learning processes but also becoming an agent who is part of the health response.
The mission of medical schools has a formative and social purpose, considering it a fundamental idea to ensure the wellbeing of the community (2,3). On the one hand, there is a need to continue the training of health professionals with alternative methods that protect the integrity and safety of those involved, and, on the other hand, the desire to join the efforts to address the increase in healthcare needs arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We are currently experiencing a transcendental moment in clinical education because, in addition to the uncertainty that the medical student typically faces during an educational procedure, he or she has to face the fear of contagion and disease during the health contingency for COVID-19.”
While some students who have well-developed professionalism and high social commitment may express a desire to collaborate during the crisis, a patient-centered approach involves ensuring that they have professional competence, safety, and efficiency through each of the phases of care: a) knowledge about the patient, b) diagnosis, c) intervention, and d) follow-up (7). For this reason, there is a need to review the requirements for their participation, not forgetting that, for all the healthcare team (including students), the patient is the first responsibility.
Along these lines, the Mexican Association of Faculties and Schools of Medicine (5) and the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) (6) pronounced themselves temporarily recommending the suspension of clinical activities in hospital areas for the students of medicine and health sciences taking courses for the bachelor's degree.
The universities that have retired the students from the clinical activity must design an action plan and implement strategies to train students with the preparation they need to rejoin the health team in later stages of the contingency (4,8). It is essential to consider that, due to the seriousness of the health crisis, staff in training become a professional reserve that could take action if a shortage of health personnel arises.