The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Clinical Practice Education in South Korea: A Cross-Sectional Study
Abstract
:1. Introduction
1.1. Background
1.2. Aims
- To identify the types of non-face-to-face clinical practice that replaced standard clinical practice during the COVID-19 pandemic;
- To understand the operational methods of non-face-to-face clinical practice that replaced standard clinical practice during the COVID-19 period;
- To examine instructors’ opinions on the use of the non-face-to-face clinical practice methods that replaced standard clinical practice during the COVID-19 period.
2. Research Methods
2.1. Research Design
2.2. Research Subjects
2.3. Research Tools
2.4. Data Collection Method
2.5. Data Analysis Method
2.6. Ethical Considerations for Research Subjects
3. Results
3.1. General Characteristics
3.2. Non-Face-to-Face Clinical Practice Forms
3.3. Alternative Clinical Practice Operation Methods
3.4. Detailed Program Operation
3.5. Instructors’ Thoughts on Alternative Clinical Practice
4. Discussion
5. Conclusions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Variable | Category | n (%) or Mean ± SD |
---|---|---|
Gender | Female | 88 (95.7) |
Male | 4 (4.3) | |
Subject | Adult nursing | 84 (91.3) |
Community nursing | 3 (3.3) | |
Administration nursing | 3 (3.3) | |
Fundamental nursing | 2 (2.2) | |
Educational Career | 144.63 ± 95.16 (months) | |
1~10 years | 43 (46.7) | |
11~20 years | 35 (38.0) | |
21~30 years | 10 (10.9) | |
31 years~ | 4 (4.3) | |
Location | Seoul | 8 (8.7) |
Busan | 4 (4.3) | |
Incheon | 3 (3.3) | |
Daegu | 4 (4.3) | |
Gwangju | 2 (2.2) | |
Daejeon | 3 (3.3) | |
Kyeonggi | 12 (13.0) | |
Gangwon | 11 (12.0) | |
Chungbuk | 8 (8.7) | |
Chungnam | 9 (9.8) | |
Gyeongbuk | 10 (10.9) | |
Gyeongnam | 4 (4.3) | |
Jeonbuk | 8 (8.7) | |
Jeonnam | 5 (5.4) | |
Jeju | 1 (1.1) | |
Affiliated Hospital | Yes | 28 (30.4) |
No | 64 (69.6) |
Variable | Category | n (%) |
---|---|---|
Type of practice | ||
2020~2022 | Face-to-face | 3 (3.3) |
Non-face-to-face (mixed) | 89 (96.7) | |
2023 | Face-to-face | 83 (90.2) |
Non-face-to-face (mixed) | 9 (9.8) | |
Duration of non-face-to-face practice | 1 semester | 32 (34.8) |
2 semesters | 29 (31.5) | |
3 semesters | 15 (16.3) | |
4 semesters | 13 (14.1) | |
5 semesters | 3 (3.3) | |
Reason for non-face-to-face practice | Hospital’s opinion | 80 (87.0) |
Students’ COVID-19 illness | 37 (40.2) | |
COVID-19 patients in hospital | 34 (37.0) | |
College decision | 28 (30.4) | |
Students’ opinion | 12 (13.0) | |
N.A. | 3 (3.3) |
Variable | Category | n (%) |
---|---|---|
Type of replacement practice | Online feedback | 75 (81.5) |
Virtual simulation | 70 (76.1) | |
Nursing skills online program | 69 (75.0) | |
Self-study | 67 (72.8) | |
Associated video program | 58 (63.0) | |
Instructor-created videos | 33 (35.9) | |
Clinical expert lectures (online) | 13 (14.1) | |
Electronic medical record (EMR) program | 13 (14.1) | |
Virtual reality (VR) program | 4 (4.3) | |
Augmented reality (AR) program | 3 (3.3) | |
In-school practice | 1(1.1) | |
Type of conference | Face-to-face | 14 (15.2) |
Non-face-to-face | 50 (54.3) | |
Mixed | 28 (30.4) | |
Case for practice | Developed case | 58 (63.0) |
Case of virtual simulation | 50 (54.3) | |
Existing practice case | 39 (42.3) | |
Case of electronic medical record (EMR) | 2 (2.2) | |
Type of evaluation | Same as before | 28 (30.4) |
Not same as before | 64 (69.6) | |
Method used to record practice time | Log data for online program | 65 (70.6) |
Submission of assignments | 62 (67.4) | |
Attendance of online conferences | 51 (55.4) | |
Certification for online program | 43 (46.7) | |
Type of assignment | Same as before | 13 (14.1) |
Not same as before | 79 (85.9) | |
Amount of assignments | Increased assignments | 81 (88.0) |
Decreased assignments | 1 (1.1) | |
No answer | 10 (11.9) | |
Method of instruction | Online conference | 81 (88.0) |
Online video | 63 (68.5) | |
Online feedback | 61 (66.3) | |
Online lecture | 39 (42.4) | |
Face-to-face conference | 31 (33.7) |
Variable | Category | n (%) | |
---|---|---|---|
Method of allocation of nursing skills program (N = 69) | Allocation | Weekly | 16 (23.2) |
Daily | 31 (44.9) | ||
Hourly | 13 (18.8) | ||
Uncertain | 2 (2.6) | ||
Self-discipline | 15 (19.5) | ||
Method used to check accomplishment of nursing skills (N = 69) | Students submit certification and learning records | 51 (73.9) | |
Teachers confirm log data | 14 (20.3) | ||
Dual check (teacher and student) | 23 (33.3) | ||
Method of utilization of virtual simulation (vSim) (N = 70) | Conference | 54 (77.1) | |
Assignments for case report | 29 (41.4) | ||
Self-discipline | 15 (21.4) | ||
Running with teacher online | 11 (15.7) | ||
Method used to check accomplishment of virtual simulation (vSim) (N = 70) | Submit scores | 68 (97.1) | |
Check log data | 35 (50.0) | ||
Reports | 7 (10.0) | ||
Method used to develop core nursing skills | Nursing skills program (online) | 49 (53.3) | |
In-school practice | 44 (47.8) | ||
Authorized video | 22 (23.9) | ||
Teaching online | 14 (15.2) | ||
Self-discipline | 3 (3.3) | ||
Method of evaluation for core nursing skills | In-school skill test | 52 (56.5) | |
Online verbal test | 17 (18.5) | ||
Skill performance video | 15 (16.3) | ||
Written test | 14 (15.2) | ||
Online skill test | 8 (8.7) | ||
In-school verbal test | 6 (6.5) | ||
Report | 4 (4.3) | ||
Certification of nursing skills program | 4 (4.3) | ||
Replacement for written test | Test online | 44 (47.8) | |
Test in school | 37 (40.2) | ||
No test | 6 (6.5) | ||
Self-study | 5 (5.4) | ||
Replacement for learning outcomes regarding communication, cooperation among experts and professional ethics | Conference after assignment | 36 (39.1) | |
Utilization case | 30 (32.6) | ||
Report | 25 (27.2) | ||
Same as before | 8 (8.7) | ||
Written test | 2 (2.2) |
Variable | Category | n (%) |
---|---|---|
Advantages of non-face-to-face practice for students | Flexible use of time | 72 (78.3) |
Physical comfort | 57 (62.0) | |
Utilization of various programs | 45 (48.9) | |
Individualized instruction | 26 (28.3) | |
Self-study by level | 25 (27.2) | |
Stable training | 18 (19.6) | |
Disadvantages faced by students in non-face-to-face practice | Cannot observe nursing tasks directly | 69 (75.0) |
Cannot experience clinical environment | 66 (71.7) | |
Cannot see communication | 53 (57.6) | |
Cannot experience clinical devices | 46 (50.0) | |
Individual practice deviations | 26 (28.3) | |
Cannot experience clinical cases | 26 (28.3) | |
Cannot experience cooperation among experts | 24 (26.1) | |
Cannot experience diagnostic study | 14 (15.2) | |
Cannot experience ethical issues | 13 (14.1) | |
Advantages of non-face-to-face practice for teachers | Utilization of various programs | 40 (43.5) |
Ease of use of data | 35 (38.0) | |
Ease of teaching practice | 33 (35.0) | |
Ease of individual feedback | 22 (23.9) | |
In-depth conferences | 10 (10.9) | |
Disadvantages faced by teachers in non-face-to-face practice | Difficulty in organizing program | 49 (53.3) |
Difficulty in evaluation | 34 (40.0) | |
Difficulty in allocation of cases | 36 (39.1) | |
Difficulty in evaluation of core nursing skills | 24 (26.1) | |
Increased instruction time burden | 7 (7.6) | |
Time for instruction | Increased | 68 (73.9) |
Same | 20 (21.7) | |
Decreased | 4 (4.4) | |
Achievement of learning outcomes | Very appropriate | 0 (0.0) |
Appropriate | 27 (29.3) | |
Typical | 44 (47.8) | |
Inappropriate | 19 (20.7) | |
Very inappropriate | 2 (2.2) |
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Park, K. The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Clinical Practice Education in South Korea: A Cross-Sectional Study. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2025, 22, 577. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22040577
Park K. The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Clinical Practice Education in South Korea: A Cross-Sectional Study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2025; 22(4):577. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22040577
Chicago/Turabian StylePark, Kuemju. 2025. "The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Clinical Practice Education in South Korea: A Cross-Sectional Study" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 22, no. 4: 577. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22040577
APA StylePark, K. (2025). The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Clinical Practice Education in South Korea: A Cross-Sectional Study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 22(4), 577. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22040577