Advances in Medical Education and Practice (Oct 2023)
The Learning Experience of Romanian Medical Students During the Online Teaching Imposed by the COVID-19 Pandemic
Abstract
Dumitru Sutoi,1,2 Catalina Oana Bazavan,1 Maria Sutoi,1,2 Alina Petrica,1,3 Adina Maria Marza,1,4,5 Cosmin Iosif Trebuian,1,6 Cosmin Librimir,1,6 Octavian Constantin Neagoe,5,7,8 Mihaela Ionica,5,7,8 Florina Nicoleta Buleu,9 Ovidiu Alexandru Mederle1,4,10 1Department of Surgery, Emergency Discipline, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, 300041, Romania; 2Clinic of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, “Pius Brinzeu” Emergency Clinical County Hospital, Timisoara, 300736, Romania; 3Emergency Department, “Pius Brinzeu” Emergency Clinical County Hospital, Timisoara, 300736, Romania; 4Emergency Department, Emergency Clinical Municipal Hospital, Timisoara, 300079, Romania; 5First Department of Surgery, “Victor Babeș” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timișoara, Romania; 6Emergency Department, Emergency County Hospital, Reșița, Romania; 7Second Clinic of General Surgery and Surgical Oncology, Emergency Clinical Municipal Hospital, Timișoara, Romania; 8First Department of Surgery, Breast Surgery Research Center, “Victor Babeș” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timișoara, Romania; 9Department of Cardiology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, 300041, Romania; 10Department of Surgery, Multidisciplinary Center for Research, Evaluation, Diagnosis and Therapies in Oral Medicine, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, Timisoara, 300041, RomaniaCorrespondence: Mihaela Ionica, Tel +40748904915, Email [email protected]: The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted many aspects of society, including medical education. In response to the pandemic, Romanian medical schools and universities have turned to online learning as a means of continuing instruction while maintaining social distancing protocols. While online learning in medical education was utilized prior to the pandemic, its widespread adoption has brought both challenges and opportunities to the field. The purpose of this study was to assess medical students’ perception towards implementing E-learning during COVID 19 pandemic.Material and Methods: This cross-sectional multicentric study comprised 611 medical students from several medical university centers from Romania. A self-developed questionnaire was online applied between January and March 2021 and used for the evaluation and analysis of perceived changes in teaching before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.Results: Most students (n = 71.5%) considered that the pandemic had an overall negative impact on their professional development. A significant negative correlation (p < 0.01, for all), was observed between during COVID-19 pandemic and the level of medical training, motivation to learn, and level of self-confidence.Conclusion: The shift to online learning during the pandemic decreased the psychological and professional development of medical students, resulting in a low perception of self-confidence, motivation, and practical involvement. However, there are many benefits brought by the use of electronic technologies for medical education both in Romania and in the world. These benefits should be systematically evaluated, and effective strategies should be developed to permanently improve the e-learning methods of these students.Keywords: medical education, COVID-19 pandemic, online medical education, medical training
