Study of perception of online video-based practical classes and face-to-face practical classes among first-year MBBS students-innovation is the way forward

ABSTRACT

Background: Since the time lockdown was imposed due to sudden outbreak of the COVID pandemic, online classes have been conducted in all teaching institutions which were mostly theory sessions. But online practical sessions have been scarcely conducted and studied. Aim and Objectives: The objectives of the study were to analyze student perception about online video (OLV)-based practical sessions and face-to-face (FTF) practical sessions and to compare them and to apply the results in curriculum planning. Materials and methods: After receiving Research Committee and Institutional Ethics Committee approvals, the research work was carried out in the Department of Physiology, SVIMS, SPMC (W). FTF practical sessions were taken for first year MBBS students during practical hours before COVID outbreak. During COVID lockdown, OLV-based practical sessions were taken for the same first-year MBBS students. The students were asked to fill a questionnaire consisting of 12 questions based on Likert scale rating and 5 open-ended questions, which would capture the student perception about two forms of practical sessions. Results: Statistical analysis by Wilcoxon test showed that students preferred FTF sessions over OLV sessions (P < 0.0001) and responses to open-ended questions revealed that majority of the students preferred a combined approach (80.6%). Conclusions: This study shows that most of the students showed an inclination towards a combined approach which is known as blended learning, where the FTF session is followed by OLV session, and this underscores the need for innovation in teaching skills which would help students get the benefits of both forms of teaching and cater to a range of learning styles.