Clinical Support During COVID-19: an Opportunity for Service and Learning? A Cross-Sectional Survey of UK Medical Students.

Medical students providing support to clinical teams during Covid-19 may have been an opportunity for service and learning. We aimed to understand why the reported educational impact has been mixed to inform future placements. We conducted a cross-sectional survey of medical students at UK medical schools during the first Covid-19 ‘lockdown’ period in the UK (March–July 2020). Analysis was informed by the conceptual framework of service and learning. 1245 medical students from 37 UK medical schools responded. 57% of respondents provided clinical support across a variety of roles and reported benefits including increased preparedness for foundation year one compared to those who did not (p < 0.0001). However, not every individual’s experience was equal. For some, roles complemented the curriculum and provided opportunities for clinical skill development, reflection, and meaningful contribution to the health service. For others, the relevance of their role to their education was limited; these roles typically focused on service provision, with few opportunities to develop. The conceptual framework of service and learning can help explain why student experiences have been heterogeneous. We highlight how this conceptual framework can be used to inform clinical placements in the future, in particular the risks, benefits, and structures.Practice pointsThere was a benefit for most students who provided clinical support compared to those who did not during Covid-19.Most students found clinical support roles more beneficial than clinical placements and most final years wanted their final year clinical placements replaced by a formal role within a clinical team.Not every student’s experience of clinical support was equal. The conceptual framework of service and learning can help explain this heterogeneity.The most beneficial roles for students complemented the curriculum and provided opportunities for clinical skill development, reflective practice, and meaningful contribution to the health service.There is an added benefit of combining service and learning if done correctly, and we can use this to inform the structure of clinical placements going forwards. However, there are risks, and we discuss principles of good practice and provide our own considerations. Practice points There was a benefit for most students who provided clinical support compared to those who did not during Covid-19. Most students found clinical support roles more beneficial than clinical placements and most final years wanted their final year clinical placements replaced by a formal role within a clinical team. Not every student’s experience of clinical support was equal. The conceptual framework of service and learning can help explain this heterogeneity. The most beneficial roles for students complemented the curriculum and provided opportunities for clinical skill development, reflective practice, and meaningful contribution to the health service. There is an added benefit of combining service and learning if done correctly, and we can use this to inform the structure of clinical placements going forwards. However, there are risks, and we discuss principles of good practice and provide our own considerations.