We are excited to announce the publication of a new systematic review led by the Public Health Education Group as part of the Best Ways Forward initiative. This is a collaborative project within the School of Clinical Medicine to develop an evidence-based framework for the delivery of medical education in the post-covid era.
The review examines longitudinal changes in medical student attendance at in-person teaching sessions, synthesising data from twelve international studies and reveals that, contrary to anecdotal reports of a post-pandemic decline, there is no consistent trend in student attendance over time. Most papers showed a positive correlation between attendance and educational outcomes. However, the study further notes a paucity of evidence on the underlying drivers of attendance behaviours and a limited exploration of effective educational strategies in response to these trends. These findings have direct implications for the structuring of medical curricula, particularly in light of evolving pedagogical practices and increased reliance on digital learning modalities. At Cambridge, the results will inform discussions around the role of compulsory versus voluntary attendance, optimisation of hybrid teaching models, and the design of sessions that maximise student engagement and educational utility. The review’s conclusions are expected to guide similar policy developments at other UK and international medical schools seeking to balance flexibility in education delivery with the rigour of clinical training.
The study was authored by a group of students, faculty and PHEG Visiting Education Researchers supported by the School of Clinical Medicine.