Perception of online learning during COVID-19 among medical students in the Qassim region, Saudi Arabia

The COVID-19 pandemic results in a significant disruption in the educational process in different stages. Students with practical educational courses were the most affected by these disruptions. Despite the use of different online platforms to continue the educational process, the perception of students, particularly medical students, towards online learning is conflicting. The present study would measure the perception of medical students in the Qassim region, Saudi Arabia, about online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic and identify its strengths and weaknesses.This was a cross-sectional quantitative study that included a questionnaire which was distributed online. All medical students in basic and clinical years were eligible for inclusion. The questionnaire involved information about responders' demographics, type of online educations, and opinions towards online education during the pandemic. Statistical analysis was done through SPSS version 26. Included medical students were 308 from the Qassim region. 51.9% were female, 66.2% were in the age group 20 to 25 years old, 64.6% were in Al Qassim College of Medicine, 26.9% were in their first academic year. Laptops were used by 55.2%, where 55.8% used the blackboard program. Also, 58.1% had a GPA between 4.5 to 5 points, and 57.8% had a negative change in their GPA due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, 54.9% thought that online learning had a positive impact on education during the COVID-19 pandemic. Yes, 55.2% of the students thought that face to face teaching would be preferred in the future. As for the advantages and disadvantages of online learning, 12% thought that online learning does not have any advantages, while only 1.9% found that online learning does not have any disadvantages. Students from Unaizah College of Medicine (p-value=0.001), students with a GPA less than three (p-value=0.045), students who had a negative change in their GPA (p-value< 0.001), and students who thought that online learning had a negative impact during COVID-19 pandemic, all had a significantly higher perception of the negative impact of online learning during the pandemic.The satisfaction of medical students with online learning was low, despite identifying some benefits. Similar studies are endorsed in other universities in Saudi Arabia.