Transition in Learning Approach for Undergraduate Medical Students of Bangladesh in Covid 19 Pandemic: A Situation Analysis

BackgroundThe outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic has fundamentally transformed the landscape of medical education system upside down worldwide. This unanticipated transition without any pre build infrastructure has made this altered prospect more challenging in Bangladesh. Though many countries across the world utilize Web Based Learning (WBL), but medical students of Bangladesh are mostly unfamiliar and unaccustomed with this newly imposed online learning avenue. Therefore, this study has evaluated the familiarity, usage, attitude of students towards online class and figured out the barriers witnessed by students in Bangladesh prospect. MethodsThis cross sectional, questionnaire based study was conducted in medical colleges across Bangladesh. A questionnaire linked to google form were distributed to undergraduate medical students all over Bangladesh through different social platforms. The answered questionnaires were automatically stored in Google drive in a specific email ID. ResultsA total of 1708 students participated. Among the respondents 45.1% were satisfied with online class. Though most students (45.8%) think online class is not effective like traditional lectures but 47.4% agrees to the point that online class should have complementary role in medical education. One of the strong attitude of medical students revealed that, most of them undoubtedly in unison (49.5% disagree, 30.3% strongly disagree) with that online class can never replace traditional class. 77.2% students responded that web based learning is interactive. 54.9% students pointed out interrupted internet connections with low speed during class which is a barrier to WBL. 83.2% of the respondents complained about facing audio visual problem in class which is attributed to poor network connectivity. Most students (74.8%) found online classes costly and 53.8% needed technical supports for online class. ConclusionThis study finding can suggest a potential reform for online class in Bangladesh. Addressing the obstacles and expectations can execute a fruitful web based learning in Bangladesh.