Abstract
BackgroundDental students have encountered changes in the teaching format amid the SARS CoV-2 pandemic. This study aims to evaluate the attitudes of dental students of one medical university toward online courses and compare them with those of non-dental students amid the SARS CoV-2 pandemic.MethodsA cross-sectional survey with a self-report online questionnaire was conducted at the medical university in May 2020 in Taipei. Students from the School of Dentistry, School of Dental Technology, and School of Oral Hygiene Study were enrolled in our survey.ResultsIn total, 473 students responded to the survey, 318 (67.2%) of whom were dental students. Overall, 366 (77%) students agreed with the change to online learning. Only 10.4% of students thought that dental professional courses with a laboratory format could be changed to online courses. Dental students were significantly more worried than non-dental students about being infected with COVID-19 and about the COVID-19 pandemic continuing.ConclusionsIn conclusion, changing to online learning seems to be perceived as feasible by students. However, more discussion about changing dental professional courses with a laboratory format to online courses considering the attitudes from students is needed.
Highlights
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been noted worldwide as an infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (CoV-2))
Many students strongly agreed with item 1–1, “I agree with changing on-site courses to online courses” 190 (40.17%), and item 1–6, “I think other non-medical professional courses with a lecture format could be changed to online courses” 202 (42.71%)
We found 8 items with statistically significant differences in “agree” responses between the two groups, including 1–7, “I think other non-medical professional courses with a lecture format could be changed to online courses”; 1–8, “I
Summary
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been noted worldwide as an infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS CoV-2). Several containment measures have been applied to stop the pandemic contagion of the virus, including isolation, contact tracing and quarantine, physical distancing, hygiene measures and lockdown [1, 2]. Experience from influenza outbreaks has shown that school closure can interrupt virus transmission because it reduces social contact between students [4]. The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization estimated that approximately 107 countries had conducted national school closures as of March 18, 2020. These closures affected approximately half of the student population worldwide [5]. Dental students have encountered changes in the teaching format amid the SARS CoV-2 pandemic. This study aims to evaluate the attitudes of dental students of one medical university toward online courses and compare them with those of non-dental students amid the SARS CoV-2 pandemic
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