Through the Students Lens: Comparing effectiveness of Face-to-Face vs. Online Learning of Undergraduate Medical and Dental Students in Islamabad, Pakistan

Objective: To get an insight from the undergraduate medical and dental students regarding the effectiveness of online vs. face-to-face learning in terms of increasing knowledge, clinical skills and social competency. Methodology: A cross-sectional descriptive study in which 391 students of a private medical and dental college in Islamabad participated from September, 2023 till December, 2023. Study participants were selected using consecutive sampling technique. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire that was adapted from a published study. Summary statistics for continuous variables and percentage and frequency was computed for categorical variables. Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used for comparisons between online and face-to-face learning. Results: There were 33.2% male and 66.8% female students. The mean age of the participants was 20.75±1.57. Face to face learning was more effective in increasing knowledge as compared to online teaching (p =0.001). Similarly, Face to face learning was more effective as compared to online learning in increasing practical/ clinical skills and social competency (p =0.000). A majority of students (61%) reported that the primary advantage of online learning is the convenience of accessing education from home without the need to travel. This is a well-known benefit of online learning. The most significant disadvantage, cited by 70% of students, was technical or internet problems. Conclusion: In conclusion, this study underscores the inadequacy of online learning alone in terms of increasing knowledge, clinical skills and social competency among medical and dental students. Our findings clearly demonstrate that face-to-face or blended teaching methods are essential for fostering comprehensive learning experiences that include hands-on practice, interactive learning environments, and the development of clinical skills.