Sign in Subscribe
Students

COVID-19 Pandemic Accelerates Shift to E-Learning in Dentistry Education

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

A cross-sectional study conducted by researchers at the Altamash Institute of Dental Medicine found that the COVID-19 pandemic led to a rapid adoption of e-learning in dentistry education, with 194 students engaging in online classes. Despite some challenges, the study revealed that the quality of e-learning was satisfactory, with students receiving timely feedback and support from instructors. The study's findings suggest that e-learning has been successful in mediating student understanding and satisfaction, particularly in achieving high grades in final assessments.

Key Takeaways:

  • The COVID-19 pandemic prompted the Altamash Institute of Dental Medicine to adopt online graduation in dentistry classes, making it obligatory for students to take online courses.
  • The study targeted 194 students who completed their final assessment, with a structured questionnaire administered through Google Forms to gather data.
  • The results showed that students' digital competencies were reasonable, although most preferred traditional face-to-face teaching methods.
  • The quality of e-learning during the pandemic was satisfactory, with 24.1% of students scoring A grades and 43.6% scoring B grades in the final assessments.
  • The study found a strong positive correlation between e-learning quality and student performance, which suggests that e-learning can be an effective means of achieving academic success.
  • The researchers identified that student understanding and satisfaction were key factors in the success of e-learning, which were facilitated by instructors' responsiveness and timely feedback.
  • The study's findings highlight the need for educators to adapt to the changing landscape of education, leveraging technology to improve learning outcomes.
  • The research was conducted by a team of authors from the Altamash Institute of Dental Medicine, including Rabia Arshad, Thelma Farast Bashir, Madiha Ata, Evangel Faraz Bashir, Hannan William, and Deema Munir.

Statistics:

  • 194 students participated in the study, representing 100% of students who completed their final assessment.
  • 24.1% of students scored A grades in the final assessments.
  • 43.6% of students scored B grades in the final assessments.
  • The quality of e-learning was satisfactory, with 35 questions administered through Google Forms to gather data.
  • The study used SPSS 26 software to evaluate the results.
  • The study's findings suggest a strong positive correlation between e-learning quality and student performance (r = 0.81).

Sources:

  • Digital Dental Education: Perceptions, Outcomes, and Satisfactions of Dentistry Graduate Students. Pakistan Journal of Medical Research, 2025, 64(1).
  • NewsRx. Reports Summarize COVID-19 Study Results from Altamash Institute of Dental Medicine (Digital Dental Education: Perceptions, Outcomes, and Satisfactions of Dentistry Graduate Students). Medical Letter on the CDC & FDA. May 18, 2025; p 223.

Read more