In-Hospital Continuous Medical Education during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a highly contagious disease as it is spread by contact with infected surfaces and inhalation of droplets. Several measures have been put in place to prevent the COVID-19 infection one of which is social distancing and physical distancing. Some in-hospital continuous medical education was suspended during the pandemic.

Objective of Study: The objective of the study is to investigate the impact of social distancing on In-hospital continuous professional development during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Research methodology: This is a cross-sectional study conducted among doctors working in Nigeria irrespective of their cadre or location. A self-administered online questionnaire was used to generate data for this study. There was no risk of participating in the study.

Results: The respondents in this study were 62. The majority 51(82.3%) had different in-hospital continuous medical education (CME) activities during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic when there was a ban in Nigeria on the gathering of more than 20 persons; the CME activities were via Zoom video conferencing 44 (71%) App. The majority of the respondents however preferred a face-to-face (physical) meeting [40(74.2%)] and also learnt better during a face-to-face meeting [46(74.2%)].

Conclusion: CME is very important in healthcare so COVID-19 did not stop it although it went through a lot of transformation in the mode it was delivered.