Distance education in a medical university during a pandemic COVID-19: the first experience through the eyes of students

Introduction: Present pandemic situation has determined using methods of distance education at organisations of higher education including medical universities. Aim of this study was to examine medical students’ attitude to transition to distance forms of education for a period of pandemic. Materials and methods. The authors conducted a questionnaire of 129 students about their attitude to distance education, assessment of its positive and negative characteristics and suggestions for improvement of the model implemented during two first weeks. Results: In 2002 at Research University an implementation of distance education technologies started. The website of distance education (WoDE) http://sdo.pimunn.net is essential to students. In March 2020 the University switched to full distance learning model due to COVID-19 pandemic. The questionnaire among students allowed to reveal positive aspects of distance education: reduction of time and cost for moving between university campuses and clinical bases (55,2% of students), comfort of learning in habitual home environment (60,9%), opportunity of daily schedule planning (66,9%), stress level reduction (37,9%), self-discipline, opportunity of copying and reviewing of studying material (59,7%). Among disadvantages was limitation in using Conclusions: Despite significant experience of e-learning and regulatory framework of application of distance education technologies, their using always was considered in a comprehensive manner with traditional intramural education and such transition leads to adaptation of electronic educational environment to new conditions.