Experiences of Medical Students with Dyslexia in a Post-COVID-19 Curriculum
Background: Dyslexia in medical school is a common condition. With the COVID-19 pandemic, the medical school curriculum has changed which might lead to differing experiences faced by medical students. This study explores the experiences of medical students with dyslexia post-COVID-19 with a focus o...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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University Library System, University of Pittsburgh
2025-07-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Medical Students |
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| Online Access: | http://ijms.info/IJMS/article/view/2523 |
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| _version_ | 1849744597403566080 |
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| author | Daniel Yi Liang Tan Maria Hayfron- Benjamin |
| author_facet | Daniel Yi Liang Tan Maria Hayfron- Benjamin |
| author_sort | Daniel Yi Liang Tan |
| collection | DOAJ |
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Background: Dyslexia in medical school is a common condition. With the COVID-19 pandemic, the medical school curriculum has changed which might lead to differing experiences faced by medical students. This study explores the experiences of medical students with dyslexia post-COVID-19 with a focus on study methods and support.
Methods: This qualitative study involved interviews with five medical students diagnosed with dyslexia. Data were collected between February and March 2023. The transcripts were analyzed using an iterative constant comparative approach to identify and develop themes related to the experiences of these students.
Results: Participants experienced a general need to work harder than their peers in certain areas of medical school, especially those pertaining to traditional learning methods. However, some participants also acknowledged strengths in other areas compared to their peers, especially concerning visual areas of medicine. This is translated into study strategies whereby participants opt for different learning-methods, adopting more visual, kinaesthetic and auditory approaches. Participants felt that more support should be given in terms of making teaching resources more dyslexic-friendly. While participants were more open in the disclosure of dyslexia, the aspect of raising awareness of the positive aspects of dyslexia in medical school was also raised.
Conclusion: This study highlighted the unique challenges and strengths of dyslexic medical students in a UK medical school, noting positive impacts of COVID-19's flexible learning. However, stereotypes and labels still persist, suggesting a need for better dyslexia education for staff and students and a curriculum shift to leverage neurodiverse strengths.
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-8113e1e42cc34ead9c9d4ba37abc2f80 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2076-6327 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | University Library System, University of Pittsburgh |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Medical Students |
| spelling | doaj-art-8113e1e42cc34ead9c9d4ba37abc2f802025-08-20T03:13:22ZengUniversity Library System, University of PittsburghInternational Journal of Medical Students2076-63272025-07-01Experiences of Medical Students with Dyslexia in a Post-COVID-19 CurriculumDaniel Yi Liang Tan0Maria Hayfron- Benjamin1Barts and The London, Queen Mary University of LondonQueen Mary University of London Background: Dyslexia in medical school is a common condition. With the COVID-19 pandemic, the medical school curriculum has changed which might lead to differing experiences faced by medical students. This study explores the experiences of medical students with dyslexia post-COVID-19 with a focus on study methods and support. Methods: This qualitative study involved interviews with five medical students diagnosed with dyslexia. Data were collected between February and March 2023. The transcripts were analyzed using an iterative constant comparative approach to identify and develop themes related to the experiences of these students. Results: Participants experienced a general need to work harder than their peers in certain areas of medical school, especially those pertaining to traditional learning methods. However, some participants also acknowledged strengths in other areas compared to their peers, especially concerning visual areas of medicine. This is translated into study strategies whereby participants opt for different learning-methods, adopting more visual, kinaesthetic and auditory approaches. Participants felt that more support should be given in terms of making teaching resources more dyslexic-friendly. While participants were more open in the disclosure of dyslexia, the aspect of raising awareness of the positive aspects of dyslexia in medical school was also raised. Conclusion: This study highlighted the unique challenges and strengths of dyslexic medical students in a UK medical school, noting positive impacts of COVID-19's flexible learning. However, stereotypes and labels still persist, suggesting a need for better dyslexia education for staff and students and a curriculum shift to leverage neurodiverse strengths. http://ijms.info/IJMS/article/view/2523DyslexiaMedical SchoolMedical StudentsMedical Curriculum |
| spellingShingle | Daniel Yi Liang Tan Maria Hayfron- Benjamin Experiences of Medical Students with Dyslexia in a Post-COVID-19 Curriculum International Journal of Medical Students Dyslexia Medical School Medical Students Medical Curriculum |
| title | Experiences of Medical Students with Dyslexia in a Post-COVID-19 Curriculum |
| title_full | Experiences of Medical Students with Dyslexia in a Post-COVID-19 Curriculum |
| title_fullStr | Experiences of Medical Students with Dyslexia in a Post-COVID-19 Curriculum |
| title_full_unstemmed | Experiences of Medical Students with Dyslexia in a Post-COVID-19 Curriculum |
| title_short | Experiences of Medical Students with Dyslexia in a Post-COVID-19 Curriculum |
| title_sort | experiences of medical students with dyslexia in a post covid 19 curriculum |
| topic | Dyslexia Medical School Medical Students Medical Curriculum |
| url | http://ijms.info/IJMS/article/view/2523 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT danielyiliangtan experiencesofmedicalstudentswithdyslexiainapostcovid19curriculum AT mariahayfronbenjamin experiencesofmedicalstudentswithdyslexiainapostcovid19curriculum |