Consequences of COVID-19 regulations on the competences of medical graduates and FM/GP interns - teachers' views.

To reduce transmission of the coronavirus and to control the spread of COVID-19, several measures were introduced globally in early 2020. Among them was the sudden closure of educational institutions, including universities. In most countries, medical students were faced with suspension of clinical attachments and a significant change in their curriculum: theoretical lectures were presented online and clinical practice was temporarily cancelled, postponed and shortened. After almost two years, these or similar measures are still in place, albeit with local variations. Overall, medical universities and medical educators seem to have responded quickly and creatively to the new educational challenges [1]. However, can medical students under these circumstances gain the skills, experiences and attitudes they require to become competent doctors [2]? This question is, in particular, relevant for students who aim to work in General Practice/Family Medicine. Next to a broad knowledge base, the competences for this discipline require the ability to communicate empathically and efficiently with all kinds of patients. However, already before implementing the Covid 19regulations, patients were frequently complaining about the lack of good communication with their doctors. Furthermore, students need to acquire clinical reasoning skills for the outpatient setting, away from the sheltered workplace in the hospital. I did a short survey among colleagues and friends around the globe – Australia, Austria, Brazil, Estonia, Greece, Netherlands, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey and the UK – and asked for their views. In summary, there was agreement that the restrictions on teaching and training imposed both challenges and opportunities to Medical Faculties and Universities, that the organisation of new teaching formats and schedules was complex and that some students and teachers adapted better than others.