The state of e-learning in radiology colleges during the COVID-19 pandemic and its future prospects

Abstract

This study evaluates the existing electronic learning (e-learning) infrastructure in Sudanese academic institutions that offer radiology education during the COVID-19 pandemic with the aim of understanding the extent and effectiveness of e-learning. By employing a descriptive cross-sectional survey from April to August 2021, data was gathered from undergraduate and postgraduate students enrolled in both public and private radiology educational institutions across Sudan. The questionnaire, created in Google Forms and distributed via email, WhatsApp, and Facebook, captured insights into the students' experiences and challenges with e-learning. The findings revealed that power outages and poor internet access were significant barriers, affecting 50% and 27% of respondents, respectively. While 33% of participants were satisfied with e-learning as a pedagogical strategy, 29% believed it hindered the achievement of educational goals. Furthermore, 78% of the respondents felt that e-learning was not suited to all medical specializations, although 46.6% supported the idea of integrating e-learning with traditional classroom instruction. Despite the adoption of e-learning due to the pandemic, students exhibited a preference for the conventional classroom setting, primarily due to challenges related to internet accessibility and the availability of the necessary technological resources. Significant infrastructure improvements and strategic planning are required to maximize the benefits of e-learning in resource-constrained countries.