IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/plo/pone00/0242905.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

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

Author

Listed:
  • Ahmed Alsoufi
  • Ali Alsuyihili
  • Ahmed Msherghi
  • Ahmed Elhadi
  • Hana Atiyah
  • Aimen Ashini
  • Arwa Ashwieb
  • Mohamed Ghula
  • Hayat Ben Hasan
  • Salsabil Abudabuos
  • Hind Alameen
  • Taqwa Abokhdhir
  • Mohamed Anaiba
  • Taha Nagib
  • Anshirah Shuwayyah
  • Rema Benothman
  • Ghalea Arrefae
  • Abdulwajid Alkhwayildi
  • Abdulmueti Alhadi
  • Ahmed Zaid
  • Muhammed Elhadi

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Ahmed Alsoufi & Ali Alsuyihili & Ahmed Msherghi & Ahmed Elhadi & Hana Atiyah & Aimen Ashini & Arwa Ashwieb & Mohamed Ghula & Hayat Ben Hasan & Salsabil Abudabuos & Hind Alameen & Taqwa Abokhdhir & Moh, 2020. "Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on medical education: Medical students’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding electronic learning," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(11), pages 1-20, November.
  • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0242905
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0242905
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0242905
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0242905&type=printable
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1371/journal.pone.0242905?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Paul T E Cusack, 2020. "Anxiety Disorders," Biomedical Journal of Scientific & Technical Research, Biomedical Research Network+, LLC, vol. 31(3), pages 24255-24260, October.
    2. -, 2020. "Education in the time of COVID-19," Coediciones, Naciones Unidas Comisión Económica para América Latina y el Caribe (CEPAL), number 45905 edited by Eclac.
    3. -, 2020. "Education in the time of COVID-19," Libros y Documentos Institucionales, Naciones Unidas Comisión Económica para América Latina y el Caribe (CEPAL), number 45905 edited by Eclac.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Heiko Sorg & Jan P. Ehlers & Christian G. G. Sorg, 2022. "Digitalization in Medicine: Are German Medical Students Well Prepared for the Future?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(14), pages 1-15, July.
    2. Kacper Nijakowski & Anna Lehmann & Jakub Zdrojewski & Monika Nowak & Anna Surdacka, 2021. "The Effectiveness of the Blended Learning in Conservative Dentistry with Endodontics on the Basis of the Survey among 4th-Year Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(9), pages 1-15, April.
    3. Wiwid Suryono & Bambang Bagus Harianto, 2023. "Item Analysis of Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) for Dangerous Goods Courses in Air Transportation Management Department," Technium Social Sciences Journal, Technium Science, vol. 41(1), pages 44-57, March.
    4. Tzyy-Yurn Tzeng & Chia-An Hsu & Ying-Ying Yang & Eunice J. Yuan & Ya-Ting Chang & Tzu-Hao Li & Chung-Pin Li & Jen-Feng Liang & Jiing-Feng Lirng & Tzeng-Ji Chen & Chia-Chang Huang & Ming-Chih Hou & Che, 2021. "The Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on the Learning Outcomes of Medical Students in Taiwan: A Two-Year Prospective Cohort Study of OSCE Performance," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(1), pages 1-10, December.
    5. Carmen Concerto & Alessandro Rodolico & Valentina Lucia La Rosa & Barbara Aiello & Miriam Martinez & Sebastiano Stuto & Carmenrita Infortuna & Laura Fusar-Poli & Maria Salvina Signorelli & Elena Commo, 2022. "Flourishing or Languishing? Predictors of Positive Mental Health in Medical Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-11, November.
    6. Jun Xin Lee & Ahmad Hathim Ahmad Azman & Jing Yi Ng & Noor Akmal Shareela Ismail, 2022. "Deciphering Learning Motivation in Open Distance Learning towards Sustainable Medical Education," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-13, April.
    7. Alvaro Prados-Carmona & Francisco Fuentes-Jimenez & Rafael Roman de los Reyes & Antonio García-Rios & Jesus Rioja-Bravo & Ezequiel Herruzo-Gomez & Pablo Perez-Martinez & Jose Lopez-Miranda & Javier De, 2022. "A Pilot Study on the Feasibility of Developing and Implementing a Mobile App for the Acquisition of Clinical Knowledge and Competencies by Medical Students Transitioning from Preclinical to Clinical Y," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(5), pages 1-17, February.
    8. Aleksandra Kobicheva & Elena Tokareva & Tatiana Baranova, 2022. "Students’ Affective Learning Outcomes and Academic Performance in the Blended Environment at University: Comparative Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-14, September.
    9. Ahmad A. Shahba & Zaid Alashban & Ibrahim Sales & Abdelrahman Y. Sherif & Osman Yusuf, 2022. "Development and Evaluation of Interactive Flipped e-Learning (iFEEL) for Pharmacy Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(7), pages 1-19, March.
    10. Piotr Przymuszała & Šucja Zielińska-Tomczak & Michał Kłos & Angelika Kowalska & Paulina Birula & Martyna Piszczek & Magdalena Cerbin-Koczorowska & Ryszard Marciniak, 2022. "Distance Learning and Assessment During the COVID-19 Pandemic—Perspectives of Polish Medical and Healthcare Students," SAGE Open, , vol. 12(1), pages 21582440221, March.
    11. Ioana Silistraru & Oana Olariu & Anamaria Ciubara & Ștefan Roșca & Ramona Oana Roșca & Silviu Stanciu & Alina Plesea Condratovici & Ioan-Adrian Ciureanu, 2022. "Burnout and Online Medical Education: Romanian Students in Lockdown and Their Residency Choices," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-11, April.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. John Elvis Hagan & Frank Quansah & Francis Ankomah & Edmond Kwesi Agormedah & Medina Srem-Sai & James Boadu Frimpong & Thomas Schack, 2022. "Linking COVID-19-Related Awareness and Anxiety as Determinants of Coping Strategies’ Utilization among Senior High School Teachers in Cape Coast Metropolis, Ghana," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-15, March.
    2. Elvie Barzo Gonzaga & Don Anton Robles Balida & Angelo Evangelio Gonzaga, 2023. "COVID-19 Precautionary Measures and Practices for Delivering Modular Distance Learning," World Journal of English Language, Sciedu Press, vol. 13(2), pages 1-98, March.
    3. Rima Wajih Hamed Daraghmeh, 2021. "Palestinian University Students' Perceptions of Distance Education in Light of the Coronavirus Crisis," Modern Applied Science, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 15(5), pages 1-1, October.
    4. Gene Klein, 2021. "Viewing Gamification Design Limitations and Weaknesses through a Pandemic Lens," Societies, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-8, November.
    5. Ilona & Urbanyi-Popiolek, 2022. "New Insights into the Ferry Business in the Turbulent Environment," European Research Studies Journal, European Research Studies Journal, vol. 0(4), pages 63-73.
    6. Amith Khandakar & Muhammad E. H. Chowdhury & Md. Saifuddin Khalid & Nizar Zorba, 2022. "Case Study of Multi-Course Project-Based Learning and Online Assessment in Electrical Engineering Courses during COVID-19 Pandemic," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-18, April.
    7. U. Y. Abdur Rahman, 2020. "Utilization of Indonesia’s Digital Economy to Invest in Human Capital and Provide Socio-Economic Support to Stimulate Economic Growth," International Journal of Business and Administrative Studies, Professor Dr. Bahaudin G. Mujtaba, vol. 6(6), pages 312-322.
    8. Rozina Afroz & Nurul Islam & Sajedur Rahman & Nusrat Zerin Anny, 2021. "Students’ and teachers’ attitude towards online classes during Covid-19 pandemic: A study on three Bangladeshi government colleges," International Journal of Research in Business and Social Science (2147-4478), Center for the Strategic Studies in Business and Finance, vol. 10(3), pages 462-476, April.
    9. Alfonso Infante-Moro & Juan C. Infante-Moro & Julia Gallardo-Pérez & Francisco J. Martínez-López, 2022. "Key Factors in the Implementation of E-Proctoring in the Spanish University System," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-16, July.
    10. Ana Iolanda Vodă & Cristina Cautisanu & Camelia Grădinaru & Chris Tănăsescu & Gustavo Herminio Salati Marcondes de Moraes, 2022. "Exploring Digital Literacy Skills in Social Sciences and Humanities Students," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-31, February.
    11. Mališ Sanja Sever & Sačer Ivana Mamić & Žager Katarina, 2022. "Landscape of e-Learning during Covid-19: Case Study of Economic Disciplines in Croatia," Business Systems Research, Sciendo, vol. 13(2), pages 8-27, December.
    12. Sorina Ioana MIȘU & Monica TRICULESCU, 2021. "Living And Teaching During Covid-19: The Damages And Benefits Of Telework," Business Excellence and Management, Faculty of Management, Academy of Economic Studies, Bucharest, Romania, vol. 11(5), pages 129-137, October.
    13. Antonietta Cosentino & Paola Paoloni, 2021. "Women’s Skills and Aptitudes as Drivers of Organizational Resilience: An Italian Case Study," Administrative Sciences, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-18, November.
    14. Kareema Ali & Daniel Burgos & Saida Affouneh, 2023. "Educational Loss at Times of Crisis: The Role of Games in Students’ Learning in Palestine and Iraq," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-15, March.
    15. José M. Ramírez-Hurtado & Alfredo G. Hernández-Díaz & Ana D. López-Sánchez & Víctor E. Pérez-León, 2021. "Measuring Online Teaching Service Quality in Higher Education in the COVID-19 Environment," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-14, March.
    16. Maricar M. Navarro & Yogi Tri Prasetyo & Michael Nayat Young & Reny Nadlifatin & Anak Agung Ngurah Perwira Redi, 2021. "The Perceived Satisfaction in Utilizing Learning Management System among Engineering Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Integrating Task Technology Fit and Extended Technology Acceptance Model," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-18, September.
    17. Hülya Tuncer & Tuçe Öztürk Karataş, 2022. "Recommendations of ELT Students for Four Language Skills Development: A Study on Emergency Distance Education During the COVID-19 Pandemic," SAGE Open, , vol. 12(1), pages 21582440221, March.
    18. Monica Ioana Burcă-Voicu & Romana Emilia Cramarenco & Dan-Cristian Dabija, 2022. "Investigating Learners’ Teaching Format Preferences during the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Empirical Investigation on an Emerging Market," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(18), pages 1-21, September.
    19. Seung-hye Jung & Joon-ho Kim & Ha-na Cho & Hae-won Lee & Hyun-ju Choi, 2021. "Brand Personality of Korean Dance and Sustainable Behavioral Intention of Global Consumers in Four Countries: Focusing on the Technological Acceptance Model," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(20), pages 1-19, October.
    20. Victor Manuel Peinado-Guevara & Aldo Alan Cuadras Berrelleza & Jaime Herrera-Barrientos & Peinado-Guevara Hector Jose & Samuel Doeg Izaguirre-Gamez & Alejandro Urias-Camacho, 2021. "Knowledge and behavioral attitudes of the academic community of the high school and university levels towards the prevention of covid-19: a cross-sectional study in Guasave, Sinaloa," Technium Social Sciences Journal, Technium Science, vol. 17(1), pages 1-19, March.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0242905. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: plosone (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/ .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.