A systematic review of health sciences students’ online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic
Background: This study aims to analyse the effectiveness of distance learning during the COVID-19 pandemic among undergraduate health sciences students using systematic review. Online learning has been chosen as the best approach to continue offering education in this pandemic era. Method: The scree...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
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BioMed Central
2022
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| Online Access: | http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/100459/ |
| _version_ | 1848863329365262336 |
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| author | Abdull Mutalib, Abdull Assyaqireen Md. Akim, Abdah Jaafar, Mohamad Hasif |
| author_facet | Abdull Mutalib, Abdull Assyaqireen Md. Akim, Abdah Jaafar, Mohamad Hasif |
| author_sort | Abdull Mutalib, Abdull Assyaqireen |
| building | UPM Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Background: This study aims to analyse the effectiveness of distance learning during the COVID-19 pandemic among undergraduate health sciences students using systematic review. Online learning has been chosen as the best approach to continue offering education in this pandemic era. Method: The screening process was done using Scopus, ScienceDirect and PubMed based on the eligibility criteria. Out of 1486 studies, 1269 were screened. A total of 64 eligible studies obtained were included in the quantitative analysis. Results were categorized into i) student attitudes (perceptions/satisfactions/engagements), and ii) student learning outcomes, and compared to the Kirkpatrick model.
Results: Although facing difficulties, 50% of the studies was moderately satisfied with distance learning, while 36% was highly satisfied and 17% dissatisfied. Most studies (26%) reported flexibility in online learning. Internet issues (19%) and low interaction between learners and instructors (19%) were the most prevalent problems mentioned. Online education engages students better than traditional learning. The learning outcome was assessed using two categories: i) academic performance and ii) skill development. Most studies (72%) stated that online learning improves academic performance, 14% reported a drop, and 14% stated no effect, while an increase in clinical skills and communication skills were reported. Kirkpatrick evaluation revealed 80% of the studies obtained was evaluated at level 1 (reaction), 8% at level 2 (learning), 12% at level 3 (behaviour) and none at level 4 (results).
Conclusion: Overall, this systematic review found that the online learning performed better than expected during COVID-19, but the data gained is insufficient to say it is beneficial when compared to other types of teaching approaches. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-15T13:31:11Z |
| format | Article |
| id | upm-100459 |
| institution | Universiti Putra Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-15T13:31:11Z |
| publishDate | 2022 |
| publisher | BioMed Central |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | upm-1004592023-12-14T04:14:08Z http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/100459/ A systematic review of health sciences students’ online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic Abdull Mutalib, Abdull Assyaqireen Md. Akim, Abdah Jaafar, Mohamad Hasif Background: This study aims to analyse the effectiveness of distance learning during the COVID-19 pandemic among undergraduate health sciences students using systematic review. Online learning has been chosen as the best approach to continue offering education in this pandemic era. Method: The screening process was done using Scopus, ScienceDirect and PubMed based on the eligibility criteria. Out of 1486 studies, 1269 were screened. A total of 64 eligible studies obtained were included in the quantitative analysis. Results were categorized into i) student attitudes (perceptions/satisfactions/engagements), and ii) student learning outcomes, and compared to the Kirkpatrick model. Results: Although facing difficulties, 50% of the studies was moderately satisfied with distance learning, while 36% was highly satisfied and 17% dissatisfied. Most studies (26%) reported flexibility in online learning. Internet issues (19%) and low interaction between learners and instructors (19%) were the most prevalent problems mentioned. Online education engages students better than traditional learning. The learning outcome was assessed using two categories: i) academic performance and ii) skill development. Most studies (72%) stated that online learning improves academic performance, 14% reported a drop, and 14% stated no effect, while an increase in clinical skills and communication skills were reported. Kirkpatrick evaluation revealed 80% of the studies obtained was evaluated at level 1 (reaction), 8% at level 2 (learning), 12% at level 3 (behaviour) and none at level 4 (results). Conclusion: Overall, this systematic review found that the online learning performed better than expected during COVID-19, but the data gained is insufficient to say it is beneficial when compared to other types of teaching approaches. BioMed Central 2022-07-03 Article PeerReviewed Abdull Mutalib, Abdull Assyaqireen and Md. Akim, Abdah and Jaafar, Mohamad Hasif (2022) A systematic review of health sciences students’ online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. BMC Medical Education, 22. art. no. 524. pp. 1-34. ISSN 1472-6920 https://bmcmededuc.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12909-022-03579-1 10.1186/s12909-022-03579-1 |
| spellingShingle | Abdull Mutalib, Abdull Assyaqireen Md. Akim, Abdah Jaafar, Mohamad Hasif A systematic review of health sciences students’ online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title | A systematic review of health sciences students’ online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_full | A systematic review of health sciences students’ online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_fullStr | A systematic review of health sciences students’ online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_full_unstemmed | A systematic review of health sciences students’ online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_short | A systematic review of health sciences students’ online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_sort | systematic review of health sciences students’ online learning during the covid-19 pandemic |
| url | http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/100459/ http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/100459/ http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/100459/ |