Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Distance Learning Versus Traditional Education for Medical Students at Napata College, Sudan, 2025
Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Distance Learning Versus Traditional Education for Medical Students at Napata College, Sudan, 2025
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Date
2025
Authors
Motaz Shehabeldin Hussein Gadim
Farah Ahmed Osman Mohamed
Fatima Hassan Yousif Markaz
Mazen Esam Aldin Mahmoud Abd Alqafor
Anfal Badreldin Almin Bala
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Napata College
Abstract
Background:
In recent years, the logistical challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Sudan have
prompted medical educators to explore an expanded use of online instructional modalities. There are
concerns that this shift to online education in medical schools could affect long-term learning outcomes for
future healthcare providers. Furthermore, the effectiveness of this learning approach has not been
thoroughly studied and evaluated. Online learning provides many educational benefits for medical
education. However, there remain many challenges and obstacles which obstruct its effective usage. The
aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of online learning among medical students of Napata
College in Sudan in 2025.
Method:
An observational descriptive cross-sectional facility-based study was conducted between March and April
2025. A total of 324 medical students participated in this study from Napata College, Sudan. Data was
collected using online self-administered questionnaires using Google forms. The data was entered and
analyzed using SPSS version 27.
Results:
A total of 324 medical students participated in this study, of which females (68.8%) were more numerous
than males (31.2%), and the most common age group was found to be 20-23 years (73.8%). The most
common academic year was fourth year (47.5%), and half of students (50.3%) had a good academic
performance. More than half of students (52.8%) were living inside Sudan, while (47.2%) were outside
Sudan. The majority (82.4%) preferred traditional face-to-face education over online-learning. The overall
positive perception of students towards online learning and its effectiveness was found to be 47.1%, while
52.9% had negative perception. Time-saving (75.9%), more attendance (33%), and more attention (29%)
were the most common mentioned advantages of online-learning. On the other hand, less attention (48.8%),
getting bored (45.7%), and less understanding (38.9%) were the most common mentioned disadvantages
of online-learning. A significant association was found between students preferences regarding type of
education and age, academic year, and perception towards online learning (P-value = 0.0007, 0.0004, and
0.00003, respectively). Furthermore, a significant association was found between perception towards
online learning and both age and residence status, (P-value = 0.0009, and < 0.0001, respectively).
Conclusion:
Overall, the findings from Napata College indicate a strong preference for traditional face-to-face
education, despite the accessibility of online learning resources. While distance learning offers benefits
like time efficiency and flexibility, challenges such as reduced engagement and comprehension persist.
This study is reinforces the notion that while distance learning can complement medical education, it may
not fully replace traditional methods. Future strategies should focus on blended learning models that
integrate the strengths of both approaches to optimize medical education.
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Napata College