Med Student Study Highlights Accessibility Benefits of Remote Learning

While the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic may have passed, its impact on our everyday lives is still being felt on a global scale. Commuting to the office every day gave way to working from home. Classroom lectures and college lectures turned into virtual Zoom meetings. The physical and emotional toll of the pandemic cannot be denied, but according to authors of the new research letter in the Journal of the American Medical Association, the switch to remote learning provided a number of benefits to medical students in the United States, particularly those living with a disability. 

What Did the Study Say?

The latest results are part of a long-term research project led by Dr Lisa Meeks from the University of Michigan Medical School which follows the prevalence of medical students in the US who disclose disabilities to their respective schools. Since 2015, the proportion of students reporting things like chronic illness, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and/or other psychological issues has been on the rise, with the disclosure rate increasing by 25% from 2019 to 2021. 

However, according to the latest round of data from Meeks’ study, requests for more inclusive preclinical testing accommodations, like extra time for test completion or a less distracting environment, decreased during this same period of time. Meeks and her fellow authors of the research letter believe the remote curriculum during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic may have inadvertently provided an optimal learning environment for medical students who struggle with psychological, learning, sensory, physical and chronic health conditions.

According to Mirage News, when asked about the decrease, Meeks noted “Medical education was at its most flexible during COVID.”

While it’s unclear if the requests for special accommodations will rise again as schools and Universities slowly return to in-person or hybrid learning, these results highlight the benefits of remote learning and signal the need for more ongoing support for medical students living with disabilities. 

Meeks agrees. 

“Medical education strives for parity and continuity between medical schools, but when it comes to disability services and reasonable accommodations, there’s no standardisation whatsoever,” said Meeks.

“One school could have incredible specialised disability support services with a qualified disability resource professional running the office, while another school does not have a specialised disability support service at all.”

Why is an Optimal Learning Environment Important for Med Students?

Learning and testing accommodations for disabled students help ensure they develop the same theoretical and clinical skills as students not living with a disability, but they’re also an important step in challenging stigma and increasing the representation of doctors with disabilities in medicine. 

Rajesh Mangrulkar, M.D., the associate dean for medical student education at the University of Michigan Medical School agrees.

“The crucial, ongoing research that Dr. Meeks and her team are doing shows that we are beginning to move the needle on understanding the lived experience for our medical students who have both apparent and non-apparent disabilities. And while we are making progress, far more work is required for us to build the culture for these students to thrive and develop; all for the betterment of their future patients.”

“Students with disabilities who have been admitted to medical school have already shown academic excellence to a significant enough extent to make them attractive candidates for admission,” adds Steven Gay, M.D., M.S., assistant dean for admissions.

“A better understanding of their needs and potential accommodations may require works to not only ensure their success but to ensure better healthcare to all of the diverse populations we hope to serve.”

What About Outside the United States?

A recent study by the University of Melbourne in Australia looked at the impact of COVID-19 remote learning on Victorian students and identified similar benefits for students with disabilities. From 2020 to 2021 three rounds of interviews were conducted with 12 families of students with disabilities in metropolitan Melbourne. 

Research showed the switch to remote learning exacerbated pre-existing challenges and the loss of school routine and structure increased stress and anxiety levels among many students. Many families (mothers in particular) felt they were left to pick up the slack in supporting their child’s learning. 

However, they also reported access to quiet learning spaces and flexibility with learning at home reduced physical fatigue and improved mental well-being. One of the key recommendations of this research project included providing additional support to students with disabilities and their families by improving their access to digital technology, similar to Meeks’ push for more remote learning accommodations for medical students in the US. 

What Does this Mean for the Future? 

While the switch to remote learning as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic was a stressful and overwhelming experience for most people, as the research above shows, it also provided an opportunity to gain unique insights into how online learning can support accessibility needs. Simply put, whether you’re attending medical school or enrolling in an online MBA program, continued support for remote learning opportunities can help open up a whole new world of opportunities for students living with a disability.