Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on dental and medical education in Bangladesh: a pilot study and the implications

Authors

  • Kona Chowdhury Department of Paediatrics, Gonoshasthaya Samaj Vittik Medical College and Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3836-1691
  • Mainul Haque Unit of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine and Defence Health, Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia (National Defence University of Malaysia), Kem Perdana Sungai, Besi, 57000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6124-7993
  • Afzalunnessa Binte Lutfor Department of Microbiology, Ad-Din Women’s Medical College, 2 Boro Mogbazar, Dhaka, Bangladesh https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0176-8746
  • Tosaddeque Hossain Siddiqui Department of Pediatric Surgery. Banga Bandhu Sheik Mujib Medical University, Shahbag, Dhaka -1000, Bangladesh
  • Rahnuma Ahmad Department of Physiology, Medical College for Women and Hospital, Plot-4, Road-8/9, Sector-1, Uttara Model Town, Dhaka 1230, Bangladesh https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7379-0822
  • Irin Sultana Department of Biochemistry, Mymensingh Medical College, Char Para, Medical Road, Mymensingh 2200, Bangladesh https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9327-5913
  • Paras Sharma Department of Pharmacognosy, BVM College of Pharmacy, Chitora Road, Badagaon, Gwalior-474006, Madhya Pradesh, India https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0107-2666
  • Halyna Lugova Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Defence Health, Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia (National Defence University of Malaysia), Kem Perdana Sungai Besi, 57000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8052-0580
  • Ayukafangha Etando Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Eswatini Medical Christian University, P.O Box A624, Swazi Plaza, Mbabane, Kingdom of Eswatini
  • Brian Godman Department of Pharmacoepidemiology, Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK; Centre of Medical and Bio-Allied Health Sciences Research, Ajman University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates; Division of Public Health Pharmacy and Management, School of Pharmacy, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University South Africa. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6539-6972

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3329/bjms.v21i2.58080

Keywords:

Bangladesh, COVID-19, dental education, infectious diseases, medical education, noncommunicable diseases

Abstract

Objective: Lockdown and other measures, including the closure of universities, introduced by Governments across countries in response to the COVID-19 pandemic have appreciably impacted on the education of dental and medical students across countries. Key challenges included the need to rapidly move to e-learning as well as instigate new approaches to practicals for health science students. This involves lecturers and students necessarily needing to rapidly adapt to e-learning and other approaches. There have also been affordability issues among students to regularly access the Internet, and purchase the necessary equipment, particularly among those from low- and middle-income countries such as Bangladesh. Consequently, there is an urgent need to assess current challenges among senior level physicians and educators in Bangladesh regarding the education of dental and medical students arising from the current pandemic, and how these are being addressed, to provide future direction. This is particularly important in Bangladesh with high rates of both infectious and non-infectious diseases.

Materials and Methods: Pragmatic investigation involving a purposely developed questionnaire based on previous studies and the experience of the co-authors. The questionnaire was distributed to 15 senior-level educators with the findings analysed by themes.

Results: Key issues included little experience with e-learning at the start of the pandemic among both staff and students, poor internet access and cost of internet bundles. In addition, fear and anxieties among both students and staff. The colleges responded by instigating teaching classes for educators on e-learning and providing adequate personal protective equipment for staff and students during teaching and practical sessions. These formed the basis of future recommendations. Other recommendations included increased flexibility among staff and students.

Conclusion: The pandemic posed appreciable challenges to both staff and students attending dental and medical colleges in Bangladesh. Some of the key issues are starting to be addressed.

Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol. 21 No. 02 April’22 Page : 444-454

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Published

2022-02-25

How to Cite

Chowdhury, K. ., Haque, M. ., Lutfor, A. B. ., Siddiqui, T. H. ., Ahmad, R. ., Sultana, I. ., Sharma, P. ., Lugova, H. ., Etando, A. ., & Godman, B. . (2022). Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on dental and medical education in Bangladesh: a pilot study and the implications. Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science, 21(2), 444–454. https://doi.org/10.3329/bjms.v21i2.58080

Issue

Vol. 21 No. 2 (2022)

Section

Original Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2022 Kona Chowdhury, Mainul Haque, Afzalunnessa Binte Lutfor, Tosaddeque Hossain Siddiqui, Rahnuma Ahmad, Irin Sultana, Paras Sharma, Halyna Lugova, Ayukafangha Etando, Brian Godman

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