Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34483055›Full record

SynthesisThe surgeon : journal of the Royal Colleges of Surgeons of Edinburgh and Ireland2022

Distance education for anatomy and surgical training - A systematic review.

Michael Co, Kwong Yee Chloe Cheung, Wan Suen Cheung, Ho Man Fok, Ka Hey Fong, Oi Yan Kwok, Tsz Wai Kelvin Leung, Hei Chun Justin Ma, Pui Ting Isabelle Ngai, Man Kit Tsang and 2 more

Open access · greenAbstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in The surgeon : journal of the Royal Colleges of Surgeons of Edinburgh and Ireland, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 20 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
20citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
9.8field-weighted citation impact, top 1% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

20 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 60 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Hands-on Distance Simulation of Technical Skills: A Systematic Review.Simulation in healthcare : journal of the Society for Simulation in Healthcare · 2026
    Pooled it
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  3. Trial
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  9. Plastinate Library: A Tool to Support Veterinary Anatomy Learning.Animals : an open access journal from MDPI · 2024
    Article
  10. Undergraduate Skills Training in Pandemic Times: Where Is the Future of Medical Education?European journal of investigation in health, psychology and education · 2023
    Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Michael CoCenter for Education and Training, Department of Surgery, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
Kwong Yee Chloe CheungCenter for Education and Training, Department of Surgery, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
Wan Suen CheungCenter for Education and Training, Department of Surgery, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
Ho Man FokCenter for Education and Training, Department of Surgery, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
Ka Hey FongCenter for Education and Training, Department of Surgery, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
Oi Yan KwokCenter for Education and Training, Department of Surgery, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
Tsz Wai Kelvin LeungCenter for Education and Training, Department of Surgery, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
Hei Chun Justin MaCenter for Education and Training, Department of Surgery, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
Pui Ting Isabelle NgaiCenter for Education and Training, Department of Surgery, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
Man Kit TsangCenter for Education and Training, Department of Surgery, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
Cheuk Yin Matthew WongCenter for Education and Training, Department of Surgery, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
Kent-Man ChuCenter for Education and Training, Department of Surgery, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong. Electronic address: chukm@hku.hk.
University of Hong Kong · HKHKU-Pasteur Research Pole · HK

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Rapid development of COVID-19 has resulted in a massive shift from traditional to online teaching. This review aims to evaluate the effectiveness of distance learning on anatomy and surgical training. This systematic review was conducted in line with the PRISMA statement and current methodological literature. The databases CINAHL, Cochrane, EMBASE and Pubmed were searched using the search terms "Distant learning" OR "Distance learning" AND "Anatomy OR Surgery". 182 non-duplicate studies were identified. 20 studies were included for qualitative analysis. 10 studies evaluated students' performance with distance learning. 3 studies suggested that students' learning motivation improved with distance learning pedagogy. 5 studies found improved student performance with distance learning (performance or task completion time) when compared to conventional physical method. While 2 other studies found non-inferior student performance. 10 studies evaluated students' feedback on distance learning. Most feedbacks were positive, with flexibility, efficiency, increased motivation and better viewing angles as the most-liked features of distance teaching. 4 studies pointed out some limitations of distance learning, including the lack of personal contact with tutor, poor network and reduced student concentration. 7 studies evaluated tutors' feedback on distance learning. Tutors generally liked online platforms for the ease of tracking silent students, monitoring performance and updating fast-changing knowledge. Yet the lack of hands-on experience for students, technical issues and high costs are the main concerns for tutors. In conclusion, distance learning is a feasible alternative for anatomy and surgical teaching.

Indexed as

COVID-19Education, DistanceStudents, MedicalHumansTeachingAnatomyDistance learningE-learningSurgical skills

Identifiers

PMID34483055
PMCPMC8514899
OpenAlexW3197429646

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.