Hybrid Learning in Medical Curriculum: Perception of Medical Students of a Dedicated COVID Hospital in Eastern India

Abstract

Background: In recent years, hybrid education has transformed traditional education. This study aimed to
examine students’ perceptions of the quality of teaching-learning in the hybrid and offline modes of UG medical
curriculum and to learn how MBBS students perceived the hybrid mode of education.
Methods: Using simple random sampling, an institution based descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out
between November 2022 and January 2023 among 100 MBBS students at the Medical College, Kolkata. After
receiving ethical approval, an online interview was carried out utilising a predesigned, pretested, semi-structured,
and validated questionnaire via Google forms. Data analysed using MS Excel and SPSS version 25.0.
Results: 90% of students believe that traditional offline classes and online learning will coexist as a hybrid
approach of instruction. Most students (63%) believed that hybrid programmes can make up for the shortcomings
of completely online or offline courses.
Conclusion: The students felt that in the long run, the hybrid approach of teaching should be improved. They
recommended making the online and offline modes more integrated, doing offline sessions to clarify questions
about topics that were taught online, making the lectures more offline format-oriented, and finally, holding
essential lessons offline.