ABSTRACT
Introduction: Coronavirus disease was declared as pandemic on February 11, 2020, with high mortality rates. It has caused public health concerns and affected social lifestyle of people, healthcare systems, and educational system. Objectives: The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate students’ perceptions of distance learning in pre-clinic (first- and second-year) classes. Material and methods: This study was conducted during the spring of 2020 on 125 pre-clinic dental students using a web-based questionnaire, with 40 close-ended and two open-ended questions developed based on existing literature about distance learning. Responses were analyzed using Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, independent t-test, χ2 test, and Mann-Whitney U test. Results: No significant differences were observed among all the scales (p > 0.05). However, when the scales were evaluated according to gender and grade, the preference scale showed statistically significant difference in gender (p = 0.029). Most of the students (47.9% strongly agree and 60.9% agree) thought that distance learning was a supportive factor for traditional teaching methods. Quantitative analyses revealed that although many students perceived the positive features of distance learning, including accessibility and flexible time management, some suffered from inequality in accessing the Internet. Conclusions: These findings suggest that even though distance learning is a valuable and preferable method for theoretical lessons, it can only be a supportive factor for formal education, as dental clinic skill lessons require face-to-face education. Dental schools should consider an alternate plan with appropriate policies for future pandemics. © 2021 Polish Dental Association
ABSTRACT
Dynamic changes are observed in the delivery of health care services due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Its effect in the short term is a dramatic decrease in service, however, its effect in the medium and long term is unknown. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on emergency department and emergency urological surgery in the short and medium term during the 8-month period, and the reasons for possible changes. Emergency department operations, urology operations and emergency surgical procedures between April and November were compared as the 2020 pandemic period and the 2019 non-pandemic period. The relevant information was obtained from the hospital management information system. Descriptive analysis and statistical methods comparing the two periods were used. In the early stages of the pandemic, significant decreases were observed in both urology procedures and emergency department operations. In the medium period, while emergency department operations and urology consultations returned to the non-pandemic periods, there was no such a change in in emergency urological surgeries. In the medium-term effects of the pandemic, emergency department operations returned to the non-pandemic periods due to reasons such as patients' abuse of emergency departments in line with their requests for rapid diagnosis and treatment. In accordance with the changing nature of the pandemic, it is necessary to make different scheduling for emergency department operations and emergency surgeries.