Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on medical education: Medical students’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding electronic learning

Abstract

The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused an unprecedented disruption in medical education and healthcare systems worldwide. The disease can cause life-threatening conditions and it presents challenges for medical education, as instructors must deliver lectures safely, while ensuring the integrity and continuity of the medical education process. It is therefore important to assess the usability of online learning methods, and to determine their feasibility and adequacy for medical students. We aimed to provide an overview of the situation experienced by medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic, and to determine the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of medical students regarding electronic medical education. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with medical students from more than 13 medical schools in Libya. A paper-based and online survey was conducted using email and social media. The survey requested demographic and socioeconomic information, as well as information related to medical online learning and electronic devices; medical education status during the COVID-19 pandemic; mental health assessments; and e-learning knowledge, attitudes, and practices. A total of 3,348 valid questionnaires were retrieved. Most respondents (64.7%) disagreed that e-learning could be implemented easily in Libya. While 54.1% of the respondents agreed that interactive discussion is achievable by means of e-learning. However, only 21.1% agreed that e-learning could be used for clinical aspects, as compared with 54.8% who disagreed with this statement and 24% who were neutral. Only 27.7% of the respondents had participated in online medical educational programs during the COVID-19 pandemic, while 65% reported using the internet for participating in study groups and discussions. There is no vaccine for COVID-19 yet. As such, the pandemic will undeniably continue to disrupt medical education and training. As we face the prospect of a second wave of virus transmission, we must take certain measures and make changes to minimize the effects of the COVID-19 outbreak on medical education and on the progression of training. The time for change is now, and there should be support and enthusiasm for providing valid solutions to reduce this disruption, such as online training and virtual clinical experience. These measures could then be followed by hands-on experience that is provided in a safe environment.

Physicians’ attitude towards webinars and online education amid COVID-19 pandemic: When less is more

“…These findings were in line with other surveys by Figueroa et al [12] and Al-Ahmari et al [13], where around 60% to 70% of physicians believed that webinars should not replace faceto-face traditional teaching after the pandemic, respectively. Moreover, similar findings were found among medical students in a study that included 13 medical schools, where 54.8% disagreed that e-learning could be used for clinical teaching [14].…”

Medical Students and SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination: Attitude and Behaviors

“…During the COVID-19 pandemic, most of the classes and exams in Poland were conducted online. This change may negatively affect the teaching process, especially the training of MS: the required limitation of practical classes in hospitals disrupts their medical education [ 27 ], and could result in the student failing a semester for administrative reasons [ 28 ].…”

Barriers to Online Learning in the Time of COVID-19: A National Survey of Medical Students in the Philippines

“…In low- and middle-income countries, online learning has the potential to (1) address faculty shortage, expanding the reach of medical educators and improving their efficiency; (2) improve access to health professions’ training, increasing the number of health workers and encouraging their retention in regional units; and (3) facilitate collaboration with institutions that have more resources [ 17 ]. Notwithstanding, in survey studies during the COVID-19 pandemic in India [ 18 ], Pakistan [ 19 ], Nepal [ 20 ], Jordan [ 21 ], and Libya [ 22 ], the majority of medical students had a negative perception or expressed dissatisfaction towards online learning.…”