Teaching semiology from the mobilization of students in the context of the pandemic

an experience report

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic brought a totally unknown scenario full of uncertainties in the training of medical students. In a short period of time, medical schools had to reinvent themselves and implement a new way of teaching medicine in the face of sanitary measures to contain COVID-19, which included, among other actions, the suspension of face-to-face activities, both theoretical and practical. With the improvement of the pandemic, medical students mobilized to create an extension course in semiology, focused on practical classes, as a way to overcome the gaps created by the pandemic. This experience report aims to report the activities carried out and by the students in the creation and development of the semiology course, as well as the perception of the students who attended the course about the semiology teaching process. The mobilization of students who proposed the extension project and acted as monitors allowed students participating in the activities to have greater contact with patients and develop their skills to perform anamnesis, physical examination and clinical reasoning. The feedback from these students demonstrates the importance of seeking alternatives to get around the suspension of face-to-face classes, especially in disciplines where practical experience is essential.