EVALUATION OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC IMPACT ON MEDICAL EDUCATION ON A GROUP OF STUDENTS IN BUCHAREST

Abstract

Aim of the study: This cross-sectional study aims to assess the impact of Covid-19 pandemic measures on the quality of dental education, the hybrid system of training, and the anxiety caused among students of the Faculty of Dentistry, UMF Carol Davila, Bucharest, Romania. Material and methods: Data collected using an on-line survey was analyzed using IBM SPSS version 19 and Chi-Square test (p<0.005). Results: Response rate was 26.71%. Only 8.3% considered on-line teaching more efficient; older students rated it as being more efficient (p=0.001). Almost 60% of the respondents considered that the theoretical aspects were more efficient (18.6%) or similar (40.1%) when presented using on-line methods; 67.8 % of respondents considered that their medical education was less productive due to the absence of clinical stages; 90.1% of students need a break during on-line activities, correlated to gender (p=0.019). Anxiety related to their professional future was declared by 69% of the students, also correlated to gender (p=0.000). 40.5% experienced anxiety caused by the possibility of being infected from colleagues, teachers or patients; 62.5% of the foreign students experienced anxiety in that matter (p=0.021). Conclusion: Students experienced anxiety related to their professional future and expected psychological support from the university. Online teaching was considered less efficient, students preferring the hybrid model. Hourly breaks were considered useful during the theoretical courses.

Keywords

• covid-19 pandemic
• dental students
• online education
• anxiety