Exploring the Educational Experiences of a Saudi Undergraduate Medical Student Cohort Who Commenced Medical School During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Authors

  • Mubarak Alruwaili
  • Bandar Alotaibi
  • Raed Alruwaili
  • Basil Mohammed Alomair
  • Muhannad Faleh Alanazi
  • Marwa Ahmed El Naggar
  • Ziad M. Alshaalan
  • Aseel Awad Alsaidan
  • Rehana Basri
  • Soha Ashry

Keywords:

COVID-19, online medical education, student engagement, academic performance, mental health, blended learning

Abstract

Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic prompted an abrupt shift from traditional in-person medical education to online learning, significantly affecting students’ academic performance, engagement, and mental health. This study evaluates these impacts among first-year medical students at Jouf University College of Medicine, Saudi Arabia.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in two phases. Phase 1 analyzed institutional academic records to compare the performance of pre-pandemic (2019/2020) and COVID-19 (2020/2021) cohorts across six courses. Phase 2 utilized an online survey to assess students’ perceptions of online learning, academic challenges, and mental health support.

Results: A significant decline in academic performance was observed in two courses. One course experienced an increase in failure rates from 11.8% to 46.4% (p < 0.001), while another showed a reduction in A and A+ grades (p = 0.002). Both courses required higher cognitive skills and hands-on training. Survey results revealed that 62.5% of students reported worsened exam performance, 56.3% experienced decreased engagement, and 50% felt unprepared for future assessments. Additionally, 41.7% reported increased psychological distress, and 39.6% expressed dissatisfaction with institutional mental health support.

Conclusion: The findings underscore the need for blended learning models that integrate online instruction with hands-on experiences, enhanced faculty engagement, and improved mental health resources to support students in medical education.

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Published

2025-05-26

How to Cite

1.
Alruwaili M, Alotaibi B, Alruwaili R, Alomair BM, Alanazi MF, El Naggar MA, et al. Exploring the Educational Experiences of a Saudi Undergraduate Medical Student Cohort Who Commenced Medical School During the COVID-19 Pandemic. J Neonatal Surg [Internet]. 2025 May 26 [cited 2026 Mar. 3];14(27S):806-22. Available from: https://jneonatalsurg.com/index.php/jns/article/view/6516

Issue

Vol. 14 No. 27S (2025): Journal of Neonatal Surgery

Section

Original Article

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