Medical Education and E-Learning During COVID-19 Pandemic: Awareness, Attitudes, Preferences, and Barriers Among Undergraduate Medicine and Nursing Students at Makerere University, Uganda
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Date
2020
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Journal of Medical Education and Curricular Development
Abstract
Given the dearth need for healthcare workers in the control of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, e-learning has been adopted in
many settings to hasten the continuation of medical training. However, there is a paucity of data in low resource settings on the plausibility of
online learning platforms to support medical education. We aimed to assess the awareness, attitudes, preferences, and challenges to e-learning
among Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) and Bachelor of Nursing (B.NUR) students at Makerere University, Uganda. An
online cross-sectional study was conducted between July and August 2020. Current MBChB and B.NUR students aged 18 years or older constituted
the study population. Using Google forms, a web-based questionnaire was administered through the Makerere University mailing list and
WhatsApp messenger. The questionnaire was developed using validated questions from previously published studies. Overall, 221 participants
responded (response rate = 61%). Of the 214 valid responses, 195 (92.1%) were Ugandans, 123 (57.5% were male, and 165 (77.1%) were
pursuing the MB ChB program. The median age was 23 (18 to 40) years. Ownership of computers, smartphones, and email addresses were at
131 (61.2%), 203 (94.9%), and 208 (97.2%), respectively. However, only 57 (26.6%) respondents had access to high or very high quality internet
access. Awareness and self-reported usage of e-learning (MUELE) platforms were high among 206 (96.3%) and 177 (82.7%) respondents,
respectively. However, over 50% lacked skills in using the Makerere University e-learning (MUELE) platform. About half (n = 104, 49%) of the
students believed that e-learning reduces the quality of knowledge attained and is not an efficient method of teaching. Monthly income (P =
.006), internet connectivity quality (P < .001), computer ownership (P = .015) and frequency of usage of academic websites or applications (P =
.006) significantly affected attitudes towards e-learning. Moreover, internet costs and poor internet connectivity were the most important barriers
to e-learning reported by 199 (93%) and 179 (84%) students, respectively. Sensitization and training of students and faculty on e-learning and
use of existing learning platforms are important to improve the attitude and use of e-learning. Blended online and use of offline downloadable
learning materials would overcome the challenges related to the variable quality of internet access in the country.
Description
Keywords
Medical education, e-learning, chCOVID-19, Medicine and nursing students
Citation
Olum, R., Atulinda, L., Kigozi, E., Nassozi, D. R., Mulekwa, A., Bongomin, F., & Kiguli, S. (2020). Medical education and E-learning during COVID-19 pandemic: awareness, attitudes, preferences, and barriers among undergraduate medicine and nursing students at Makerere University, Uganda. Journal of Medical Education and Curricular Development, 7, 2382120520973212. Doi: /doi.org/10.1177/23821205209732