Dental e-learning before, during and after COVID-19 pandemic: a cross sectional study among Saudi dental students
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20231670Keywords:
E-learning, Online education, Face-to-face learning, Dental education, COVID-19Abstract
Background: Dental education has been shifting from face‑to‑face learning to e-learning, and this was profound during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to assess the overall experience and satisfaction of dental students towards e-learning in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted between November 2022 and January 2023. The survey questionnaire comprised items for both qualitative and quantitative analysis of data. Non-parametric tests (Mann-Whitney U test and Kruskal-Wallis test along with Conover post-hoc analysis) were conducted to compare ‘e-learning experience’ and ‘overall satisfaction’, against the descriptive variables.
Results: The sample of 250 participants comprised 52.4% females, 71.6% were in the age group 22 to 25 years, 96.4% were Saudi nationals, and 29.6% were 4th-year students. Approximately 72.8% of them described their IT skills as average and 55.2% of them had participated in e-learning activities before the COVID-19 pandemic. E-learning for practical/clinical sessions before the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, during the complete lockdown, after partial return following the lockdown, and after complete return following the lockdown are statistically significantly higher in participants who had participated in e-learning before the pandemic.
Conclusions: The present study ascertained the positive perceptions of dental students regarding e-learning as a preferred learning method. However, the students of the preclinical and clinical years have a varying preference between traditional face-to-face education and online learning.
References
Baczek M, Zaganczyk-Baczek M, Szpringer M, Jaroszynski A, Wozakowska-Kaplon B. Students' perception of online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic: A survey study of Polish medical students. Medicine. 2021;100(7):e24821.
Olum R, Atulinda L, Kigozi E, Nassozi DR, Mulekwa A, Bongomin F, Kiguli S. Medical Education and E-Learning During COVID-19 Pandemic: Awareness, Attitudes, Preferences, and Barriers Among Undergraduate Medicine and Nursing Students at Makerere University, Uganda. J Med Educ Curric Dev. 2020;7:2382120520973212.
Khalil R, Mansour AE, Fadda WA, Almisnid K, Aldamegh M, Al-Nafeesah A, Alkhalifah A, Al-Wutayd O. The sudden transition to synchronized online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia: a qualitative study exploring medical students' perspectives. BMC Med Educ. 2020;20(1):285.
Binrayes A, Almahdy A, Habib SR, Aljutaili A, Alotaibi Y, Aldoihi S, Alkhathran A. Dental students' academic performance before and after the Covid-19 pandemic: A retrospective analysis. Saudi Dent J .2022;34(8):751-6.
Ibrahim NK, Al Raddadi R, AlDarmasi M, Al Ghamdi A, Gaddoury M, AlBar HM, et al. Medical students' acceptance and perceptions of e-learning during the Covid-19 closure time in King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah. J Infect Public Health. 2021;14(1):17-23.
Afrashtehfar KI, Assery MK. From dental science to clinical practice: Knowledge translation and evidence-based dentistry principles. Saudi Dent J. 2017;29(3):83-92.
Qutieshat AS, Abusamak MO, Maragha TN. Impact of Blended Learning on Dental Students' Performance and Satisfaction in Clinical Education. J Dent Educ. 2020;84(2):135-42.
Al-Saleh S, Al-Madi EM, AlMufleh B, Al-Degheishem AH. Educational environment as perceived by dental students at King Saud University. Saudi Dent J. 2018;30(3):240-9.
Asiry MA. Dental students' perceptions of an online learning. Saudi Dent J. 2017;29(4):167-70.
Bahanan L, Alsharif M, Samman M. Dental Students' Perception of Integrating E-learning During COVID-19: A Cross-Sectional Study in a Saudi University. Adv Med Educ Pract. 2022;13:839-47.
Shahrvini B, Baxter SL, Coffey CS, MacDonald BV, Lander L. Pre-clinical remote undergraduate medical education during the COVID-19 pandemic: a survey study. BMC Med Educ. 2021;21(1):13.
Kang H. Sample size determination and power analysis using the G*Power software. J Educ Eval Health Prof. 2021;18:17.
Diaz-Narvaez VP, Amezaga-Avitia AC, Sarabia-Alvarez PA. Chilean Dentistry students, levels of empathy and empathic erosion: Necessary evaluation before a planned intervention: Levels of empathy, evaluation and intervention. Saudi Dent J. 2018;30(2):117-24.
Sinclair PM, Kable A, Levett-Jones T, Booth D. The effectiveness of Internet-based e-learning on clinician behaviour and patient outcomes: A systematic review. Int J Nurs Studies. 2016;57:70-81.
Linjawi AI, Alfadda LS. Students' perception, attitudes, and readiness toward online learning in dental education in Saudi Arabia: a cohort study. Adv Med Educ Pract. 2018;9:855-63.
