Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41860814›Full record

Observational studyJMIR formative research2026

The Influence of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Current Teaching Methods, Training, and Perception Among Romanian Surgery-Oriented Students: Cross-Sectional Study.

Ionut Dudau, Dumitru Sutoi, Bogdan Chiu, Raluca Radbea, George Marin, Anda Nicoleta Ciontos, Vlad Mulcutan-Chis, Daian Ionel Popa, Maria Sutoi, Andrei Catalin Zavragiu and 2 more

Abstract readObservational StudyMulticenter Study
In one paragraph

Observational study in JMIR formative research, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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.

Ionut Dudau *Doctoral School, Faculty of General Medicine, Victor Babeș University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timișoara, Timișoara, Timiș County, Romania.ORCID 0009-0008-8335-1098
Dumitru Sutoi *Department of Surgery, Emergency Discipline, Victor Babeș University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timișoara, Timișoara, Timiș County, Romania.ORCID 0000-0003-3261-9820
Bogdan Chiu *Victor Babeș University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timișoara, Timișoara, Timiș County, Romania.ORCID 0009-0003-9281-7391
Raluca Radbea *Doctoral School, Faculty of General Medicine, Victor Babeș University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timișoara, Timișoara, Timiș County, Romania.ORCID 0009-0000-7116-5919
George Marin *Victor Babeș University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timișoara, Timișoara, Timiș County, Romania.ORCID 0009-0007-5392-1996
Anda Nicoleta Ciontos *Victor Babeș University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timișoara, Timișoara, Timiș County, Romania.ORCID 0009-0005-0247-1310
Vlad Mulcutan-Chis *Victor Babeș University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timișoara, Timișoara, Timiș County, Romania.ORCID 0009-0002-1961-4945
Daian Ionel Popa *Doctoral School, Faculty of General Medicine, Victor Babeș University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timișoara, Timișoara, Timiș County, Romania.ORCID 0009-0007-1728-3552
Maria Sutoi *Spitalul Clinic Judeţean de Urgenţă "Pius Brînzeu" Timişoara, Timișoara, Timiș County, Romania.ORCID 0009-0000-9812-5204
Andrei Catalin Zavragiu *Doctoral School, Faculty of General Medicine, Victor Babeș University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timișoara, Timișoara, Timiș County, Romania.ORCID 0009-0009-1336-8465
Ovidiu Alexandru Mederle *Department of Surgery, Emergency Discipline, Victor Babeș University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timișoara, Timișoara, Timiș County, Romania.ORCID 0000-0002-2242-7764
Bogdan Nicolae Deleanu *Victor Babeș University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timișoara, Timișoara, Timiș County, Romania.ORCID 0000-0002-4405-4225

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic prompted rapid changes in medical education, accelerating the adoption of online and distance learning methods as alternatives to traditional teaching. While these approaches offered logistical advantages, students worldwide reported significant limitations, particularly in terms of motivation, clinical exposure, and hands-on skill acquisition. Despite the increased use of digital teaching during the pandemic, core educational objectives and the mission of medical training remained unchanged, emphasizing the continued importance of practical experience.

objectiveThis study aims to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on current teaching methods in medical education and to explore students' perceptions of online learning, telemedicine, artificial intelligence, and other modern educational alternatives.

methodsThis observational, cross-sectional multicentric study surveyed a cohort of Romanian medical students using a self-developed 48-item online questionnaire distributed via social media. Data were collected over 6 weeks (February-March), yielding 451 responses, of which eligible participants included students in clinical years or preclinical students interested in surgical or orthopedic careers, with a heavy representation of the Medicine and Pharmacy University of Timisoara. Statistical analysis was performed using Microsoft Excel and JASP (University of Amsterdam; version 0.95.4).

resultsA total of 436 responses were analyzed, with students favoring online or hybrid formats for lectures but preferring on-site teaching for practical training. Reduced patient interaction and limited skill acquisition were the main drawbacks of online practical education. Acceptance of hybrid learning correlated with more positive perceptions of teaching methods and a lower perceived desire to cheat.

conclusionsThe COVID-19 pandemic brought significant changes to the way medicine is being taught in Romania, but it also brought a clearer picture for students and medical staff on how they want medical education to be done. Online cheating remains a significant challenge, but it is being tackled at the moment with different algorithms being tested.

Indexed as

COVID-19Education, DistanceGeneral SurgeryStudents, MedicalTeachingAdultCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansMalePandemicsPerceptionRomaniaSARS-CoV-2Surveys and QuestionnairesCOVID-19 pandemicmedical educationmedical studentsmedical trainingpost COVID-19 pandemic

Identifiers

PMID41860814
PMCPMC13125979

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
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.