NeuroLytes as a novel, virtual, case-based didactics targeted at medical students undergoing Neurology clerkship

Objective: To demonstrate that interactive virtual case-based discussions contribute to the education and satisfaction of medical students as an adjunct to standard educational practices. Background: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, medical students have had their time engaging with patients dramatically decreased. In an attempt to compensate for this deficit in education, many novel teaching methods have been utilized such as the use of interactive virtual case discussions. Design/Methods: We designed four interactive case discussions (NeuroLytes), each focusing on a particular neurologic disorder. These discussions were held weekly, led by neurology residents, and targeted at medical students during their neurology clerkship. Satisfaction surveys were distributed to medical students who participated in NeuroLytes in order to assess their subjective perception of these sessions as well as their overall perspective on how education was impacted by COVID-19. Results: Seventy-six medical students participated in NeuroLytes and responded to the perception survey. Students identified that their learning experience after the pandemic was most affected by decreased interaction with patients (85.5%), other students (73.6%), residents (46.1%), attendings (53.9%), as well as decreased motivation to study (52.6%). Students also felt their ability to learn the neurological exam, take a history, and reason clinically would be most affected (51.5%, 69.7%, and 42.4% respectively). Satisfaction with NeuroLytes has been reported as high-86% strongly agreed or agreed that NeuroLytes should continue. Additionally, there was a significant increase in student rating of teaching sessions prior (median of 4/5) and after (median of 4.3/5) NeuroLytes (p=0.01). Similarly, there was a significant increase in student rating of overall educational experience on the clerkship as a median of 3.5 before and 3.9 after (p=0.02). Conclusions: Interactive virtual case-based discussions (NeuroLytes) appear to be a successful educational method and may be implemented in neurology clerkships as an add-on to standard teaching, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.