Assessment of acceptance, barriers, and facilitators of e-learning among trainees of Saudi board of preventive medicine during covid-19 pandemic

ABSTRACT

Introduction: When the COVID-19 emerged, and lockdowns were imposed, e-learning was adopted as an alternative teaching method. Our study aimed to assess e-learning acceptance facilitators and barriers among trainees of the Saudi Board of Preventive Medicine (SBPM) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A Cross-sectional study used an electronic questionnaire as Google Form, which included the E-learning acceptance measure (ElAM) with its three constructs and inquired about attitude, barriers, advantages, and disadvantages of e-Leaming. Data analysis was done with descriptive statistics, the student's t-test and multiple linear regressions. Results: The studies showed an 83% response rate, and most (75%) of the trainees were satisfied with the e-learning experience. Around 65.6% of the trainees did not report any challenges securing the internet during the online learning period. The ElAM mean score was 111.97 +/- 23.04. Trainees with difficulty securing the internet for learning had a significantly reduced total ElAM score and its three constructs (p<0.001). Of respondents, 72.6% preferred a combination of e-learning with traditional classrooms as unsuitability for some courses to be online was reported. Conclusion: Three-quarters of trainees welcomed the new learning method because of its flexibility and cost reduction. Around a half preferred the e-leaming coupled with physical training because of limitations line internet issues.