Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Allied Health University Education Programs: A Scoping Review.

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic triggered the mass transition of tertiary education to virtual delivery or a hybrid learning approach. This scoping review aims to identify the nature and extent of the current literature on how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the allied health student education experience and the delivery of teaching and learning materials. A scoping review, performed following the PRISMA-ScR guidelines, was conducted for standard databases and the grey literature published after 2019 that focused on allied health education. Study quality was critically appraised and narrative analysis was performed. Of 6,509 papers identified from the literature search, a total of 68 articles were selected for data extraction. Out of the final 68 studies selected for inclusion in the scoping review, all universities were impacted by the transition to virtual or hybrid learning. Students reported that virtual learning increased flexibility and examinations were considered less stressful. Negative aspects of virtual learning were health issues such as anxiety and depression, technical difficulties, and the lack of interaction with peers and educators. Overall, the studies included in the scoping review reported that allied health students preferred conventional face-to-face learning opportunities over virtual learning experiences. High student satisfaction levels in institutions using a hybrid approach were common. Further research is needed on a wider range of educational experiences (e.g., placements and academic performance).