Teaching satisfaction scale through virtual vs. face-to-face modality in medical students in times of SARS-CoV-2

Abstract

Introduction: The global health emergency required the implementation of confinement measures, in this framework of action, higher education institutions, being considered agglomeration centers, had to adapt to maintain social distancing. Objective: To determine the level of satisfaction when acquiring knowledge through the virtual vs. face-to-face modality in medical students in times of SARS-CoV-2. Methodology: This is a prospective, observational, cross-sectional study conducted in a public higher education institution in the Republic of Ecuador, during the period December 2020 – January 2021, within the framework of the confinement due to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. An evaluation instrument approved by an education expert and validated using Cronbach's alpha coefficient was used with a sample of 299 participants. Results: The general level of satisfaction of the students, when acquiring knowledge through the virtual modality, was mostly unsatisfactory, related to factors such as connectivity, study time, student interest and class structure. Conclusion: the virtual modality in countries such as Ecuador may not be efficient enough to generate a satisfactory perception in students. General Area of Study: Medicine. Specific area of study: health sciences education. Type of study: original.