Status of Digital Learning Practices in Health Sciences Education in Pakistan

Hussain Maqbool Ahmed Khuwaja                             MSc

Ali Maqbool                                                                          BDS, MSc

Komal Abdul Rahim                                                         BScN

Sana Gul                                                                                BScN

Sanam Hanif                                                                        BScN

Shabnoor Karim                                                                BScN

OBJECTIVE: To assess the status of digital learning practices among recognized degree awarding medical, dental and nursing education institutes in Pakistan.
METHODOLOGY: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, all medical, dental and nursing education institutes registered with PMDC and PNC were approached between 1st April and 15th April, 2020. Data was collected on use of online classes during routine academic year as well as during COVID19 Pandemic.
RESULTS: There were 111 medical colleges, 52 dental colleges and 62 nursing education institutes found in latest lists available on PMDC and PNC websites. Majority of health sciences education institutions were found in Punjab and Sindh, indicatin sheer discrimination with other provinces of Pakistan. Use of online classes was found very low in routine academic year in all three disciplines of health sciences education explored in this study.
CONCLUSION: HEC, PMDC and PNC must realize the scope of digital learning, and invest in infrastructure and capacity building for digital learning in health sciences education in Pakistan.
KEYWORDS: Online learning, Virtual learning, Online Classes, Medical Education
HOW TO CITE: Khuwaja HMA, Maqbool A, Gul S, Hanif S, Karim S. Status of digital learning practices in health sciences education in Pakistan. J Pak Dent Assoc 2020;29(S):S30-35.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.25301/JPDA.29S.S30
Received: 30 April 2020, Accepted: 16 June 2020

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