Online Learning and Its Impact on Perception of Health and Clinical Skills Among Clinical-Year Medical Students

Abstract

Background:
The COVID-19 pandemic forced clinical-year medical students to shift from onsite learning to online classrooms, potentially affecting their physical health, psychosocial well-being, social interactions, and essential clinical skills. This study aimed to explore these impacts among 4th–6th-year medical students at the Surat Thani Medical Education Center.

Objectives:
(1) To assess the effects of online learning on physical, mental, social, clinical skills, and learning outcomes.
(2) To compare the differences across each clinical-year level.

Methods:
A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among 34 medical students using a 24-item validated questionnaire covering seven domains. Descriptive statistics and one-way ANOVA were used for analysis. Ethical approval was obtained from the Human Research Ethics Committee of Surat Thani Hospital (REC 05-0024; June 14, 2022).

Results:
Among respondents, 47.1% were 5th-year students; the average online learning time was 12.6 hours per week. Fourth-year students were significantly more affected in physical symptoms (office syndrome, eye strain, insomnia) and psychosocial stress (stress, anxiety) compared to 5th and 6th years. In the clinical skills domain, novice clinical learners reported reduced leadership, peer interaction, and physical examination skills. Sixth-year students showed the least effect on examination performance.

Conclusion:
Online learning negatively affected physical, psychosocial, and clinical learning domains, particularly among novice clinical-year students. These findings highlight the need for curriculum redesign and enhanced student support systems to mitigate the impact of online learning in future disruptions.