Distance learning during COVID-19 pandemic among healthcare students

Distance learning has become a mandatory component of all educational institutions, such as schools, colleges and universities, around the world due to the pandemic crisis of COVID-19.This study aims to explore the situation of distance learning among the healthcare students of The Red Cross Medical College of RSU.  This study is based on primary data. The sample size, or n, in this scenario is 176. The online questionnaire through Google Forms has been prepared for data collection. The period of study was March 2020. 58,5% (n=103) of the students have successfully integrated into the implementation of the distance learning process of the college and managed it. In its turn, 32,5% (n=57) from the surveyed students indicated, that they partially integrated into the implementation of the distance learning study process. Research showed that 42%(n=74) from the respondents, answering the question about the effectiveness of the distance learning, indicated that it is not possible for them to study as successfully as in lecture-rooms or laboratories, whereas 31,2% (n=55) from the respondents answered that they do not see special difference between traditional and distance learning, and 14,85% (n=26) of the surveyed responded that their distance studies are more productive than the ones happening in lecture-rooms. A major challenge for the students appeared to be an increase of the amount of individual work and compliance with tasks’ submission deadlines. The College has managed to adapt to a distance learning process within a short period of time appealing to various e-solutions. Lecturers have been actively involved in the process of an application of digital tools even prior COVID-19, which has promoted successful initiation of distance learning process. The research results show that the students integrated into the distant learning process and digital transformation has given a possibility to preserve the continuity of a study process.