Medical students' appreciation of distance education during COVID-19

Authors

  • Buenaventura Alfredo Gutiérrez Maydata Villa Clara University of Medical Sciences.
  • Teresita Wong Orfila Villa Clara University of Medical Sciences.
  • Leydi Alfonso Arboláez Villa Clara University of Medical Sciences.
  • Cruz Idania Monteagudo Méndez Villa Clara University of Medical Sciences.
  • Lorge Jacinto Hernández Villa Clara University of Medical Sciences.

Keywords:

coronavirus infections, education, distance, students, medical, e-accessibility

Abstract

Background: the Medicine degree at Villa Clara University of Medical Sciences was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, which made it necessary to temporarily dispense with face-to-face teaching and move towards distance learning.
Objective: to analyze the appreciation of Medicine students on the results of distance learning imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, in the 2020-2021 academic year.
Methods: a descriptive and cross-sectional study was carried out from May to June 2021 at the Faculty of Medicine. Theoretical methods were used for the foundation of the investigation; empirical ones: questionnaire to students; and statistical-mathematical for percentage values.
Results: despite the fact that most of the students reported good criteria about distance learning, 5.1% gave a Bad rating, while 9.4% considered this experience as average. Among the main difficulties, they expressed dissatisfaction with the programs implemented for the subjects, the non-availability of the university's virtual classroom for technical reasons, the insufficient preparation of teachers to assume this modality and the non-systematic evaluation of teaching tasks, which led to loss of interest in the study. The number of students who had devices with internet connectivity was considered positive.
Conclusions: although the results showed a positive evaluation of distance learning, this experience generated valid suggestions aimed at improving it with the implementation of strategies based on scientific evidence.

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Author Biographies

Buenaventura Alfredo Gutiérrez Maydata, Villa Clara University of Medical Sciences.

Doctor in medicine. II Degree Specialist in Clinical Biochemistry and Nutrition. Assistant Professor. Assistant Researcher. School of Medicine.

Teresita Wong Orfila, Villa Clara University of Medical Sciences.

Doctor in medicine. I Degree Specialist in Human Anatomy. Assistant Professor. School of Medicine.

Leydi Alfonso Arboláez, Villa Clara University of Medical Sciences.

Doctor in medicine. I Degree Specialist in Comprehensive General Medicine. Assistant teacher. School of Medicine.

Cruz Idania Monteagudo Méndez, Villa Clara University of Medical Sciences.

Doctor in medicine. I Degree Specialist in Comprehensive General Medicine. Assistant teacher. School of Medicine.

Lorge Jacinto Hernández, Villa Clara University of Medical Sciences.

Doctor in medicine. I Degree Specialist in Human Anatomy. Master in Medical Education. Assistant teacher. School of Medicine.

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Published

2023-09-01

How to Cite

1.
Gutiérrez Maydata BA, Wong Orfila T, Alfonso Arboláez L, Monteagudo Méndez CI, Jacinto Hernández L. Medical students’ appreciation of distance education during COVID-19. EDUMEC [Internet]. 2023 Sep. 1 [cited 2025 Jul. 1];15(1):e2437. Available from: https://revedumecentro.sld.cu/index.php/edumc/article/view/e2437

Issue

Section

ARTÍCULO ORIGINAL