Open educational resources in epidemiology: a case study of student perceptions

Textbooks are fundamental in epidemiological education, but their rising costs and static nature present challenges in an ever-evolving academic landscape. Open Educational Resources (OER) offer a potential solution by providing free, adaptable, and high-quality alternative learning materials. This study examined student perceptions of an OER textbook compared to a traditional epidemiology textbook across undergraduate and postgraduate epidemiology units at Edith Cowan University, Western Australia. A total of n = 164 students responded to a survey assessing textbook quality, alignment with course objectives, clarity, and perceived impact on learning. Results indicated students perceived no significant differences between the traditional and OER textbooks across most dimensions, with the OER textbook rated slightly higher for clarity of language (p = 0.05) and preferred for its cost-free accessibility. The study underscores the potential viability of OER to enhance accessibility and equity in epidemiology education without a compromise in quality.