Attitudes and Opinions of Atatürk University Medical School Students Towards Distance Education due to the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Aim:During the Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, formal education was suspended and distance education was introduced in many countries to reduce the risk of viral transmission. This study aimed to evaluate the attitudes and opinions of medical students who received distance education due to the COVID-19 pandemic.Materials and Methods:In the spring semester of the 2019-2020 academic year, 331 students who received distance education at the faculty of medicine were evaluated. A descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted by applying the Sociodemographic Data Form and the Scale for the Perception of Distance Education Students About Distance Education.Results:Of the participants, 67.7% (n=224) were female, 61.3% (n=203) were 1st grade, 14.8% (n=49) were 2nd grade, 10.3% (n=34) were 3rd grade, 9.4% (n=31) were 4th grade and 4.2% (n=14) were 5th grade students. Personal suitability and efficiency response scores were significantly higher in 3rd-grade students compared to the other grades, but no significant difference was observed between the predisposition factor scores (p<0.001, p<0.001, p=0.109, respectively). The efficiency factor response scores of those who were only children were significantly higher than in those with four or more siblings (p=0.014). Those who had their own room had higher personal suitability and efficiency scores than those who did not (p<0.001, p<0.001, respectively). The predisposition factor scores of the students who had lost relatives due to COVID-19 were statistically significantly higher than the other participants (p=0.046).Conclusion:The sociodemographic characteristics of students participating in distance education significantly affect the effectiveness of distance education, teaching, personal suitability, and students’ predisposition.

Keywords

• covid-19
• pandemic
• distance education
• medical students