Perception and expectation of Moroccan pharmacy students regarding e-learning in the context of COVID-19 pandemic lockdown

Abstract

Online learning, or e-learning, has grown exponentially in recent years, not least because the COVID-19 pandemic has forced many educational establishments to adopt distance learning modalities. In the field of pharmacy, where the acquisition of theoretical and practical knowledge is essential, the adoption of e-learning has attracted particular interest. The aim of this study is to analyze the feedback received by pharmacy students from different faculties in the country following the introduction of new learning methods during the Covid pandemic. The study was carried out using a "Google forms" questionnaire, which was sent to students at the country's faculties of pharmacy. The questionnaire included various points, such as a description of the population, preferred mode of distance learning of lectures among students and satisfaction with e-learning. The study involved 176 respondents, 65.9% of whom were women. Around 50% of respondents use e-learning tools more than 6 times a week for educational purposes. Seventy per cent of respondents are satisfied with their e-learning experience, but only 43.2 believe that e-learning has a positive effect on their academic results. Forty-seven per cent of respondents considered the quality of teaching to be the major shortcoming of e-learning, followed by distraction (32%) and the questionable credibility of the diploma (20%). E-learning has significant potential to transform teaching and learning in pharmacy, and its thoughtful integration can bring lasting benefits to students.