Rapid Transition to Virtual Learning in Postgraduate Medical Education during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Tanzania: A Qualitative Study

Background: The effect of the progressive utilization of virtual learning (VL) in postgraduate medical education (PGME) is contentious. During the COVID-19 pandemic, VL was up-scaled to bridge the education delivery gap. How this impacted learning experiences in PGME is an area that needs to be explored for the progressive context-specific application of VL. Objective: This phenomenological study aimed to explore the postgraduate medical faculty’s and residents’ experiences with the rapid shift to VL. Methods: Through an interpretivist paradigm, this study used in-depth individual semi-structured interviews and prompts to explore the full breadth of the participants’ experiences. A purposive sampling method was used, and qualitative content analysis was employed in an iterative process until data saturation. Data was collected between January 2021 and July 2021. Member checking was done to ensure validity. The AKU-ERC granted ethical approval, with reference AKU/2020/098/fb. Results: Ten participants were recruited for the study. Positive experiences were greater access to learning materials and improved learner confidence. In contrast, limited supervision, and lack of assurance of participants’ engagement emerged as a negative VL experience. The components of critical thinking and problem-solving skills were unaffected by virtual case-based learning. However, the aspects of acquiring clinical and surgical skills emerged as a difficulty in accepting VL as a valid mode for attaining these competencies. Conclusions: To improve experiences of VL, participants’ drive, engagement, technological inadequacies, and instructional design should be optimized.