European Medical Students’ Attitudes on Distance Learning During COVID-19 Pandemic

We have conducted a survey study on “Attitudes of Medical Students to Distance Learning during Covid-19 Pandemic” between 28 August-13 September 2020.We sent a 24-item online questionnaire to medical students in our Faculty Member Organizations. In the first part of the study, we asked questions related to communication between students-school administrations, the current situation about how is going on (face-to-face/ online). In the second part of the study, we asked questions related to attitudes about ongoing distance learning. Attitude questions have been asked as 5 Likert Scale questions.

We received answers from 76 medical faculty representatives of EMSA that come from 13 diffferen European countries. Based on the results of the study, provided resources (reading recommendation, booklets, articles, audibles, etc.) have the most influence on overall satisfaction (rs= 0.76, p < 0.01). Learning platform’s design also has a significant impact on overall satisfaction (rs= 0.68, p < 0.01). 40.7 % of the faculty representatives declared that feedback mechanisms exist to evaluate online courses although 23.7% percent of faculty representative declared that they don’t know if there is one and the rest, 35.6% of the group mentioned ‘no’ for any kind of feedback system.

Today, education is not limited to geographical regions. Students can access various educational programs from all over the world. This situation brings learning freedom to students in a way that is best suited to their lifestyles. Isolation during the pandemic can be considered as a disadvantage for online distance learning. However, with the appropiate techniques and tools to support the communication, presence and belonging, online distance learning can most advantageous tool for both students and academic staff during the pandemics .