DENTAL STUDENTS’ PERSPECTIVES ON THE IMPLEMENTATION AND EFFECTIVENESS OF ONLINE LEARNING DUE TO COVID-19 PANDEMIC: A DESCRIPTIVE CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY IN BULGARIA

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.20535/2410-8286.231011

Abstract

Purpose. As dental education was significantly influenced by the novel coronavirus pandemic, this study aims to investigate pre-clinical dental students’ perspectives on the implementation of remote education and school closure due to COVID-19 pandemic, self-reported effectiveness of on-line learning as well as their educational and personal experiences. Method. A self-administered questionnaire was posted online to a total of 258 out of 516 second and third-year preclinical dental students in Dec 2020/Jan 2021 at Faculty of Dental Medicine, Medical University-Sofia, Bulgaria. Survey items focused on 3 general domains: student attitude, assessment, and concerns regarding online learning; student current knowledge and perceptions of COVID-19 pandemic and student opinion of pandemic psychological impact on public health, personal experiences and intention for vaccination. Findings. One-hundred and sixty-nine students responded to the survey (response rate 65.5%). Most of them (70.4%) approved suspension of face-to-face classes due to the COVID-19 crisis. Eighty percent expressed dissatisfaction toward online teaching sessions and agreed that this will have negative effects on their education. Fifty-eight percent did not find remote education more stressful than in-person training. More concerns were expressed about financial issues than mental health problems. Intention for getting vaccinated was expressed by 53.3% and 40.8% thought that the vaccine would cause many side health effects. Implications for research and practice. Within the limitations of the study, identified gaps in online education could help increase effectiveness of learning environment and create opportunity to enhance education for the future. Dental student thoughts about COVID-19 vaccinations provide valuable information to administrators, public health professionals and policy makers to improve efforts towards preserving, protecting, and promoting public health.

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Author Biographies

Nadya Avramova, Madical University

Nadya Avramova is a PhD Assistant Professor at the Department of Dental Public Health, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Medical University – Sofia, Bulgaria. Master’s Degree in Dental Medicine from Sofia Medical University, Master’s Degree in Healthcare management from Sofia Medical University, Master’s Degree in Psychology from St. Cyril and St. Methodius University of Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria and PhD in Dental Medicine from Medical University – Sofia, Bulgaria. Her academic interests focus on organization of healthcare systems, motivation and behavioral sciences, dental education and practice, medical psychology.  

Ivanka Mihaylova , Medical University

Ivanka Mihaylova is a PhD Assistant Professor at the Department of Dental Public Health, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Medical University – Sofia, Bulgaria. Master’s Degree in Dental Medicine from Sofia Medical University, Master’s Degree in Psychology from St. Cyril and St. Methodius University of Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria and PhD in Dental Medicine from Medical University – Sofia, Bulgaria. Her research interests are in personality and behavioral sciences areas.   

Krassimira Yaneva-Ribagina, Medical University

Krassimira Yaneva-Ribagina is a PhD Professor at the Faculty of Dental Medicine, Medical University – Sofia, Bulgaria. Currently she is the head of the Department of Dental Public Health and supervisor of the PhD thesis “Teamwork in dental practice”. Her research areas are epidemiology of dental diseases, history of dentistry and sociological studies in dental practice.

Boyko Bonev , Medical University

Boyko Bonev is a PhD Associate Professor at the Department of Dental Public Health, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Medical University – Sofia, Bulgaria. Master’s Degree in Dental Medicine from Sofia Medical University, Master’s Degree in Psychology from St. Cyril and St. Methodius University of Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria and PhD in Dental Medicine from Medical University – Sofia, Bulgaria. His scientific interest is on prevalence of dental diseases, public health, dental education, dental anxiety, and communication in dental practice.

Stanislav Nenov , Medical University

Stanislav Nenov is a PhD candidate at the Department of Dental Public Health, Faculty of Dental medicine, Medical University – Sofia, Bulgaria and since 2020 he is Assistant Professor at the same department. Master’s Degree in Dental medicine at the Faculty of Dental medicine, Medical University – Sofia, Bulgaria and Master’s Degree in Public health and health management at the Faculty of Public Health, Medical University – Sofia, Bulgaria. His main research interests are related to communication and conflicts in dental practice, barriers for access to dental health and dental public health.     

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Published

2021-07-31

How to Cite

Avramova, N. ., Mihaylova , I. ., Yaneva-Ribagina, K., Bonev , B., & Nenov , S. (2021). DENTAL STUDENTS’ PERSPECTIVES ON THE IMPLEMENTATION AND EFFECTIVENESS OF ONLINE LEARNING DUE TO COVID-19 PANDEMIC: A DESCRIPTIVE CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY IN BULGARIA. Advanced Education, 8(18), 109–118. https://doi.org/10.20535/2410-8286.231011

Issue

2021: Issue 18

Section

ARTICLES

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Copyright (c) 2021 Nadya Avramova, Ivanka Mihaylova , Krassimira Yaneva-Ribagina, Boyko Bonev , Stanislav Nenov

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