The Challenges Faced by Pharm.D Students in Online Learning due to Covid-19 Pandemic and its Impact on their Mental Health in the Northern Border Region of Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of the survey was to gather information from students on their learning preferences prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, barriers to online education during the pandemic, and the mental and psychological effects of COVID-19 on students. Method: Applying Google Forms, a cross-sectional pharmacy student-targeted online questionnaire designed to develop. In order to ensure that only pharmacy students responded, an introductory opening inquiry of the program name used to select out non-pharmacy students. Following that, these few demographic questions are asked to the participant's present institution and program year in which the participants currently in. Results: A total 260 pharmacy students received the survey, out of total 186 replies were received from professional pharmacy students, resulting in a response rate of around 71.5%. Almost half of the students (94%) chose traditional face-to-face training, while 32.8% preferred a combination of online and face-to-face instruction, and only 16.7% liked online instruction alone. The difficulties to online education during the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak show that, Issues with in-person communication (23.7%), pandemic-related anxiety and stress (22%), time management (19.9%), experience in online education (16.7%). The majority of respondents (87%) intended to incorporate online knowledge gained during the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak into their teaching/learning techniques. During the COVID-19 epidemic, we discovered that practically all students were plagued by symptoms of sadness, anxiety, tension, and poor sleep quality, with the majority suffering from significant depression (31.2 %). Conclusion: This study concludes that most of the students are in favor of incorporation and applications of online learning experiences in teaching/learning practices garnered during pandemic. Furthermore, the majority of students had changed their behavior as a result of coronavirus, while nearly half of those polled experiencing an increase in anxiety and tension. Keywords: COVID-19 pandemic, online learning, mental health, Pharm.D students, Pharmacy education, face to face learning.