Cross-Country Student Perceptions about Online Medical Education during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Suzuki, Tomoya; Murayama, Anju; Kotera, Yasuhiro; Bhandari, Divya; Senoo, Yuki; Tani, Yuta; Harada, Kayo; Kawamoto, Ayumu; Sato, Satomi; Sawano, Toyoaki; Miyata, Yasushi; Tsubokura, Masaharu; Tanimoto, Tetsuya; Ozaki, Akihiko

Abstract

(1) Introduction: Most educational institutions around the world have shifted from traditional face-to-face to online education amid COVID-19. This change may particularly impact medical students, whose education is heavily influenced by clinical learning experiences. Accordingly, we investigated medical students’ perceptions about positive and negative aspects of online medical education in Japan and overseas during the COVID-19 pandemic. (2) Methods: In-depth online interviews were conducted among 13 Japanese medical students and five medical students from Slovakia, Norway, and Hungary. Interviews were conducted from 23rd September to 3rd October 2020 using the snowball sampling method. Questions were focused on five main areas: Q1 the type of online education; Q2 advantages and disadvantages of online education; Q3 any changes in the relationship with teachers, friends, and family; Q4 any opinions about further improvements in online education; and Q5 any needs for affiliation with a particular university. Then thematic analysis was conducted. (3) Results: The results of the thematic analysis revealed the following four themes that represent the positive and negative aspects of online medical education; Theme 1: Timesaving and Flexibility; Theme 2: Technical problems and lack of digital skills; Theme 3: Unstandardized teaching skills; Theme 4: Lack of experience beyond medical school lectures. (4) Conclusions: While online education was found useful in terms of saving time and creating a flexible learning environment, many important drawbacks were noted such as internet and computer problems and unstandardized teaching skills, and lack of quality assurance. In addition, experiences outside the classroom such as making relationships with faculty and friends, conducting research and participating in extracurricular activities were missed, which they normally enjoy in college life.

Citation

Suzuki, T., Murayama, A., Kotera, Y., Bhandari, D., Senoo, Y., Tani, Y., Harada, K., Kawamoto, A., Sato, S., Sawano, T., Miyata, Y., Tsubokura, M., Tanimoto, T., & Ozaki, A. (2022). Cross-Country Student Perceptions about Online Medical Education during the COVID-19 Pandemic. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(5), Article 2840. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19052840

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Feb 25, 2022
• Online Publication Date: Feb 28, 2022
• Publication Date: Feb 28, 2022
• Deposit Date: Feb 20, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: Feb 20, 2023
• Journal: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
• Print ISSN: 1661-7827
• Electronic ISSN: 1660-4601
• Publisher: MDPI
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 19
• Issue: 5
• Article Number: 2840
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19052840
• Keywords: Undergraduate; COVID-19; Pandemic; Medical education; SARS-CoV-2; Distance-learning; Health; Toxicology and Mutagenesis; Public Health; Environmental and Occupational Health
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/17639156
• Publisher URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/5/2840