Pharmacy Student's challenges in virtual learning system during the second COVID 19 wave in southern India

Abstract

The education system has reformed to a new era of virtualization. Students once on-campus had to shift their academic learning to their houses. A web-based questionnaire was prepared and circulated among pharmacy students in Southern India (n = 482) to assess the quality of virtual education and their attitude and acceptance towards the new system during the second wave of COVID 19. Students (n = 183,65.1%) claimed of appreciable quality in the online education system (p < 0.01) and they had improved communication (n = 315,65.3%), presentation (n = 383,79.4%), writing (n = 343,71.1%), computer handling (n = 424,88%) and reading (n = 281,58.1%) skills facilitated by their institution's orientation program. However, 21.6% had poor academic performances triggered by their (n = 147, 30.5%) inability to focus and being inactive (n = 390, 80.9%) the whole day. Moreover, poor internet connectivity (n = 320) and lack of functioning gadgets (n = 198,41%) were the other hindrance factors. Female participants (82.6%), those pursuing a B Pharm degree (50.9%), and those who did not avail financial assistance (73%) were quite satisfied with the current education system (p < 0.05). On the other hand, limited hospital training during the pandemic have led PharmD respondents (n = 86,48.3%) to poor acceptance of the system. Despite these challenges, a large percentage of surveyed participants were keen to collect data from missed online classes, responded well to faculties, were punctual in online classes and academic submissions and marked satisfaction with their institutional attendance criteria (73.5%). A proper educational system with an advanced student monitoring portal, periodical motivation programs, workshops and extra-curricular activities shall keep students focused on their online academic responsibilities.