Published date:Mar 28 2025

Journal Title: Sudan Journal of Medical Sciences

Issue title: Sudan JMS: Volume 20 (2025), Issue No. 1

Pages:61 - 71

DOI: 10.18502/sjms.v20i1.15462

Magdi. A. H. Bayoumibayoumi.magdi@gmail.comFaculty of Postgraduate Studies, Scientific Research & Publishing, Ibn Sina University, Khartoum

Sibusiso Clifford Ndlangamandlacndlanga@unisa.ac.zaDepartment of English Studies, College of Human Science, University of South Africa

Sahar Osman BajouriSaharbagouri@gmail.comResearch Unit in IBRAZ Medical Simulation & Training Centre, Ibn Sina University, Khartoum

Nada SidAhmed Eljackneljack@hotmail.comIBRAZ Medical Simulation & Training Centre, Ibn Sina University, Khartoum

Background: The COVID-19 lockdown of Sudanese universities in March 2020 affected education at all colleges, notably medical students. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate final-year medical students’ perceptions and satisfaction with using mobile phones and Telegram at Ibn Sina University. Fortunately, these students were familiar with using mobile phones and Telegram as technological teaching and learning tools with some lecturers before the spread of COVID-19.

Methods: This evaluation-based design study was conducted from March to June 2020. A diagnostic test and a questionnaire were used to collect data. The diagnostic test consisted of five multiple choice questions (MCQs) on Control Infection Measures. The questionnaire consisted of three sections: (i) demographic characteristics of the students; (ii) students’ learning experience; and (iii) mobile learning design. A population of 135 students was targeted and a convenience sample of 40 medical students in their final fifth year voluntarily participated in this study. The questionnaire data were analyzed using SPSS, while the diagnostic test data were analyzed by comparing pass rates per item.

Results: The findings of the diagnostic test revealed that 94% of the students learned about what infections are, where they come from, and how to prevent them; 66% learned about standard precautions; 56% understood how to break the chain of infection; and 53% succeeded in recognizing diseases that are transmitted by infection, thus, they were aware about the epidemic process of an infectious disease. Students enhanced their knowledge of personal hygiene and built personal skills, experiences, and practices for reducing infection. The questionnaire findings revealed that the students showed positive perceptions, strong satisfaction, and positive learning experiences with a percentage score ranging from 67.5% to 95% indicating that they “agree” and “strongly agree,” respectively. Moreover, 75% of the students were able to get advice from their instructors whenever they needed and had the opportunity to study, gain knowledge, and interact with their peers successfully. Additionally, 82.5% of the students preferred asynchronous learning and teaching.

Conclusion: Mobile phones and the Telegram App have been accepted well by the students as indicated by the results of the present study and may be used more for academic activities. It is recommended that these tools can broadly be adopted in medical education due to their positive potential during this research.

Keywords: COVID-19, medical students, online learning, perceptions, knowledge

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