Attitude of medical students to the education process in the period of COVID-19 pandemic

INTRODUCTION: The move of medical education that requires personal presence for formation of most clinical competencies of a future doctor, to the distance format in the period of COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019) pandemic, has become a challenge. A study of perception of the new education format by students seems important to obtain feedback on the learning process, especially in the time of global pandemics. AIM: To study the attitude of medical students to the learning process in the period of COVID-19 pandemic. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A qualitative cross-sectional observational study was conducted using a questionnaire developed at the Faculty of Medical Sciences of the University of Kragujevac Rectorate (Serbia). The survey was conducted online via the anketolog.ru resource. The reference to the survey was posted in the University-Student system. Participation in the study was voluntary and anonymous. A total of 694 students of Sechenov University took part in the survey. RESULTS: In general, students positively assessed the adaptation of the teachers to the education process in the circumstances concerned, availability of the learning materials, as well as interaction with the teachers, among other things, at exams, noting the flexibility and possibility to more rationally organize their personal time in the distance education format, and also reduce of expenditures in the study process. However, most students believe that online education cannot completely replace the traditional form in terms of obtaining knowledge, especially in acquiring clinical skills, and also note a decrease in motivations and concentration in distance learning, and inconveniences of using the existing online education platform. CONCLUSION: The research materials can serve as the basis for developing recommendations for improving the online education mechanisms.