Student’s Perspective on ‘E-learning’ as a Tool for Medical Education: A KAP Study
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Abstract
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic catalyzed widespread adoption of e-learning in medical education, yet its sustained acceptability and integration as a core pedagogical tool remain insufficiently explored in resource-constrained government medical colleges of South India. Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted from January to March 2024 among undergraduate MBBS students at Government Medical College, Pudukkottai, Tamil Nadu. Using convenience sampling, 512 of approximately 600 eligible students (response rate 85.3%) completed a pretested self-administered questionnaire assessing knowledge (7 items), attitude (12 items), and practice (11 items) regarding e-learning. Data were analysed using IBM SPSS version 25.0; descriptive statistics and chi-square tests were applied. Results: Students exhibited high confidence in basic digital skills (online search 61.5%, emails 58.6% very confident) but low confidence in advanced tasks (statistics 16.2%, blog creation 6.1%). Two-thirds (67.6%) supported e-learning as a supplement to regular classes, whereas only 17.9% favoured replacing all lectures. Concerns about increased screen time and health issues were endorsed by 66.4%. Daily social networking was nearly universal (63.1%), while specialized academic uses remained limited. Senior students showed significantly higher confidence in online medical platforms (χ² = 26.81, P < 0.001), and students acknowledging health risks paradoxically spent more time on social networking (χ² = 16.26, P = 0.0003). Conclusion: Undergraduate medical students are digitally proficient and strongly favour blended learning models. A balanced digital ecosystem is essential to enhance learning without compromising student well-being. Institutions should prioritise structured hybrid frameworks, advanced informatics training, and digital-wellness interventions to optimise benefits while addressing screen-time related morbidity.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Dr. Muthamizhveena R, Dr. Muthukumar Rajamohan, Dr. Peter R
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