Transforming educator expectations in public health, nursing, and medicine: a two-phase survey on digital tools in education

The digital transformation of healthcare education has accelerated significantly due to the COVID-19 pandemic, shifting traditional, practice-oriented teaching towards digital methodologies. Before the pandemic, digital teaching was minimally adopted and lacked systematic strategies, especially in Germany’s higher education institutions. This study comprised two cross-sectional online surveys among university faculty in public health, nursing, and medicine—conducted in 2020 and 2021—with a total of 238 participants. The surveys explored the use of digital tools, satisfaction with digital teaching, perceived challenges, and expectations for future teaching practices. Digital platforms such as Zoom, Moodle and MS Teams emerged as the most widely used tools, primarily for content delivery rather than interactive or collaborative activities. Faculty reported generally positive experiences and increasing adaptation to digital teaching, though concerns persisted regarding its time demands and limited support for personalized learning and student engagement. Satisfaction with digital teaching grew between the two survey phases, yet remained moderate regarding didactic support and student outcomes. Educational videos and learning management systems were highlighted as favored methodologies. Nonetheless, reservations about reducing attrition rates and supporting disadvantaged learners indicate unresolved challenges. While digital methodologies in healthcare education have gained acceptance, their integration remains shaped by technical considerations rather than didactic innovation. To optimize digital teaching, institutions must provide targeted professional development, define clear frameworks for digital competencies, and implement systematic evaluation processes. The adoption of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, necessitates further investment in faculty training and attention to ethical and legal considerations. Comprehensive pedagogical reforms are essential for the sustainable advancement of digital education in healthcare.