1.A Qualitative Study Exploring the Impact of Covid-19 Pandemic on Teaching and Learning of Family Medicine Course among Undergraduates in a Local University in Malaysia
Fathima Begum Syed Mohideen ; Mohd. Radzniwan A. Rashid ; Nur Faraheen Abdul Rahman ; Muhammad Tauffik Mohd Noor ; Sharifah Najwa Syed Mohamad
Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences 2023;19(No.3):115-122
Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted the global teaching and learning process (TnL). Unfortunately, to date, not many qualitative studies have been published specifically on the impact of COVID-19 on
the Family Medicine course, particularly in Malaysia. Hence, this study aimed to explore the impact of COVID-19
pandemic on the teaching and learning experience of undergraduate students undergoing their Family Medicine
course at a local university. Methods: A qualitative study using focused group discussion (FGD), was conducted
among undergraduate students during the lockdown period. A semi-structured interview guide was used to interview
20 students, in their fifth undergraduate year, undertaking their fourth to fifth week of a total six-week course. They
were selected using purposive snowball sampling method. There were four focus group discussions (FGD) with five
students in a group. All interviews were audio-taped, transcribed verbatim, and the contents were analysed using
the standard content analysis framework. Subsequently, thematic content analysis was conducted, and three major
themes were produced. Results: The three major themes were (1) facilitators to learning, (2) barriers to learning, and
(3) rooms for improvement. Conclusion: Although COVID-19 pandemic had significant impact on TnL of Family
Medicine course among undergraduates, the students remained optimistic and proposed some improvement from
their point of view. However, a creative, realistic, effective, and impactful way of TnL, particularly in clinical aspects
should be developed and experimented. Technological progress and advancement should permit this idea to be
achievable and implemented in near future.