Social determinants of online teaching in medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

This survey aimed to evaluate the social determinants and medical student perceptions of online teaching during the COVID-19 lockdown restrictions. This was an analytical cross-sectional study that took place via an online questionnaire open for 2 weeks (1st Nov to 14th Nov) throughout Pakistan. Our sample included 3,952 respondents from various medical schools and medical years. Our survey found that 48% of the students did not like online teaching, 61% did not find online teaching stimulating, 51% did not engage in the sessions, and 59% responded their preparation was not up to the mark with online teaching. Medical school year 5 (OR(95%CI): 0.54 (0.23 – 0.84); P-value = 0.023), male gender (OR(95%CI): 0.71 (0.55 – 0.91); P-value = 0.038), lack of devices (OR(95%CI): 0.63 (0.40 – 0.83); P-value = 0.031), and unstable internet connection (OR(95%CI): 0.85 (0.74 – 0.98); P-value = 0.025) were independent determinants of negative perception to online teaching. We conclude that majority of medical students in Pakistan had a negative perception of exclusive online learning. We recommend that the challenges of online learning in our limited-resource setting should be systematically evaluated and that effective strategies should be developed to overcome their inhibitory effects.