PERCEPTION OF E-LEARNING AMONG PHYSIOTHERAPY STUDENTS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Introduction: With a lockdown period with COVID-19, most physiotherapy colleges all over Gujarat took to some or the other mode of e-learning. Social distancing protocols had to be enforced to reduce spread of infection, thereby increasing the need of e-learning. E-learning techniques entail benefits and challenges both, and may also pose technological difficulties. In clinical professions like physiotherapy education, e-learning techniques can be demanding and may hinder in achieving desired outcomes among the students. The present study was conducted with an aim to understand the opinions, preferences and problems of this somewhat new form of teaching-learning methods among physiotherapy students of Gujarat.

Method: A Google survey form was generated and circulated among physiotherapy students of Gujarat. Both male and female students studying physiotherapy in any year - both undergraduate and postgraduate, were included in the study. Students following internship were excluded. Data analysis was done using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 16.

Results: 2025 responses were obtained from Gujarat. 1552 students (76.6%) had not taken any online courses in the past. No online lectures had been attended in the past by 1126 students (55.6%). A majority of 1188 students (58.7%) preferred audio-video conferencing as the mode of e-learning. When asked about possessing all the technologies required for attending an online class e.g. internet supporting mobile phone, laptop, desktop, good internet services, etc., there were 1758 positive responses (86.8%). 1712 students (84.5%) said they were comfortable with downloading and installing various e-learning software or apps on their computer or phone. 1415 students (69.9%) were comfortable spending several hours on their phone or computer. 1517 students (74.9%) enjoyed e-learning. When asked about their preference of e-learning to classroom learning, 1140 students (56.3%) responded positively. 715 students (35.3%) responded that they were comfortable with not meeting their classmates in person.

Conclusion: 86% students found e-learning to be a possibility in physiotherapy in India and majority of the students preferred e-learning to classroom learning. However, some of the students also found some technological difficulties too. E-learning may be developed as an alternative to classroom learning after removing the existing barriers and insufficiencies.