Perceived Barriers of Managing Teaching–Learning during COVID-19 Pandemic: A Descriptive Observational Study among Medical Educators in West Bengal

Abstract

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic led to a paradigm shift in the landscape of medical education, necessitating a transition from traditional pedagogical methods to digital learning platforms. This study aims to find out the barriers faced by medical educators in West Bengal during the pandemic. Materials and Methods: This descriptive type of observational study with a cross-sectional design was conducted between December 2022 and February 2023 with a reference period of March 2020 to December 2020. The study population was the medical educators working during the reference period in the various departments of Government Medical Colleges in West Bengal. One hundred and twenty medical educators were selected using simple random sampling and responses were collected through a predesigned and pretested Google Forms. Collected data were checked for consistency and analyzed in GNU PSPP (v 1.4.2). Quantitative data were expressed as mean (±standard deviation) or median (±interquartile range), and qualitative data were expressed in frequency and percentage. Results: Out of the 120 sample population, 100 responded within the stipulated 7 days with a response rate of 83%. Most of the respondents had opined that they did not have a dedicated e-classroom facility for online education (87, 87%) and web camera (63, 63%). The majority had a prevailing teacher-centric approach to education including a lack of incorporating student feedback in deciding mode of communication. Conclusion: The study identifies the deficiency of logistical support and identifies the importance of capacity building of medical educators for tiding over similar situations in future.