Medical, Dental, and Nursing Students’ Experience with Virtual Practical Sessions: A Cross-Sectional Study
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Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly impacted healthcare education, necessitating a shift from traditional on-campus teaching to virtual platforms. However, there is limited research on how this transition has affected students' experiences, particularly in laboratory sessions. Understanding students' perceptions of virtual learning is crucial for optimizing future educational strategies.
Objective: This study aims to evaluate students' experiences with virtual (online) laboratory sessions compared to traditional on-campus sessions. Key aspects examined include preference, time allocation, level of effort, retention of instructions, and preferences for future teaching methods.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using a Google Forms questionnaire distributed to students enrolled in medicine, dentistry, and nursing programs. Participants' self-reported experiences in anatomy, pathology, microbiology, histology, and physiology virtual and on-campus laboratory sessions were analyzed.
Results: The questionnaire garnered responses from 455 students. A majority of students in histology (55.2%), pathology (57.4%), and microbiology (55.3%) preferred virtual sessions, while fewer in anatomy (39.6%) and physiology (44.3%) expressed the same preference. Notably, students in histology (35.6%) and microbiology (37.0%) reported putting in less effort during virtual sessions. Many participants acknowledged that virtual labs required less time but also indicated challenges in remembering instructions compared to on-campus sessions. Variations in experiences were noted across gender, field of study, and academic year.
Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic has reshaped healthcare education, emphasizing the need for adaptable teaching methods. Factors such as effort, time management, retention of information, and teaching preferences differ among students based on demographics and academic progression. These findings underscore the importance of tailored approaches to virtual education to enhance its effectiveness and address diverse student needs
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