The Medical Students’ Dilemma: E-Textbook or Printed Textbook? A Cross Sectional Study from Medical Colleges in Rawalpindi Pakistan

Abstract

Objectives: To assess students’ perspectives of traditional learning and text books and more advanced e-learning and digital text books learning from digital and printed text.

Study Design: Cross-sectional study.

Place and Duration of Study: Course of six months from Jan to Jun 2022 in two Medical Colleges of Rawalpindi Pakistan.

Methodology: The study was a cross-sectional study carried out over course of six months from Jan to Jun 2022 in two Medical Colleges. Participants were 300, recruited through non-probability convenience sampling technique. A questionnaire and online survey were used to obtain information about response of medical students towards e-book and printed text effecting the quality of education. The data was analyzed using SPSS software version 23.0.

Results: Mean age of participants was 22±2.24 years and majority were between 21-24 years of age 212(71%) with almost equal proportions of males 140(47%) and females 160(53%) Significant association was found between gender and solid plan with traditional learning p=0.046 and more privacy of data in printed text, more reliability p=0.033.Significat association also found between age category and ease of modification of e text p=0.023, improvement in skills p=0.024 and also decrease in motivation due to technical disruption 0.034, instant feedback in e learning p=0.002.

Conclusion: Mean while Medical students favored the e-learning and digital books, they didn’t over rule completely the
significance of traditional learning and paperback books.