Virtual learning in Neurosurgery During the COVID-19 Pandemic, A Systematic Literature Review.

BACKGROUND: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is considered one of our time’s most significant global health crises, and its sequel is expected to be long-lasting. The shutdown of institutions, social distancing requirements, and decreased elective surgical exposure have disturbed neurosurgical training and education worldwide. REVIEW: This review examines initiatives adopted to provide continued medical education for surgeons, trainees, and medical students during the pandemic. A systematic review was conducted using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) protocol; quiring PubMed, Cochrane COVID-19 Study Register, Scopus, and Google Scholar for (“COVID-19” AND “Education” AND “Neurosurgery”). Out of 598 studies, 21 articles met the inclusion criteria. Studies showed that many institutions and societies worldwide adopted virtual learning for continuing medical education during the pandemic. CONCLUSION: Data showed that online educational methods added educational value that can be considered an adjunct or replacement for traditional learning methods. It proved effective and carried a high satisfaction and engagement rate between surgeons, trainees, and medical students in neurosurgery.