Perception of undergraduate dental students regarding technology-based learning during COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Objectives To assess the satisfaction and attitude of undergraduate dental students in Tanta University Egypt, towards different aspects of technology based (TB) learning during the pandemic outbreak of COVID-19. Background COVID-19 pandemic has led governments and institutions to take draconian measures with regards to the ongoing education. In an attempt to balance the safeguarding of students, faculty members, and patients, while keeping education process ongoing, universities were forced to adopt distance education as an alternative to classical face to face education. Participants and methods An observational cross-sectional study was carried on 675 undergraduate students of Faculty of Dentistry, Tanta University, Egypt. Results The result of the present study revealed that nearly 57% of the participant students expressed positive satisfaction of TB learning and 70% expressed positive attitude. The current work highlighted that satisfaction and positive attitude towards TB learning are positively associated with gender, grade, computer skills and previous experiences of online learning. Conclusion Based on the result of the present work, it is clear that improving internet infrastructures, e- learning courses and teaching staff members become a mandatory to face challenges of COVID-19 and similar crises that may happen in the future.