The impact of the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic on academic studies, clinical training, and their opinion on vaccination among radiography students

Abstract

Objectives: Since its inception, the COVID-19 pandemic has generated challenges for healthcare professions and educational institutions worldwide. This study aimed to investigate the effect of COVID-19 on radiography students’ education in Jordan. Method: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted during the initial COVID-19 lockdown period (31 March to 30 May 2020). All diagnostic radiography year groups at governmental universities (the Hashemite University, Al-Hussein Bin Talal University, and Jordan University of Science and Technology) were invited to complete the anonymous survey in Jordanian using Microsoft Forms. Results: There were 417 responses. Findings showed that Jordan’s radiography students’ education has been significantly impacted by the COVID-19 epidemic. The majority of survey participants were not convinced the online learning platforms were user-friendly. Comparing remote teaching versus face-to-face instruction, 51% of participants had difficulty concentrating. Access to clinical placements was the biggest issue raised; 86% of respondents stated that their clinical experience differed from what was outlined in the curriculum. 42% of the students were in favor of receiving the COVID-19 vaccines. Conclusions: Clinical radiography education in Jordan has been significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The availability of necessary facilities for online training, the efficiency of the online platforms, and motivation to learn were the significant issues. The adoption of blended learning strategies and the use of simulation to enhance practical placement chances need to be taken into consideration when developing future training curricula and responses to pandemics.