Assessing the impact of online learning on practical skills acquisition of Radiography students at Makerere University

Abstract

Background: Radiography training at Makerere University used physical mode of learning until the COVID-19 pandemic shifted learning to online. Despite delivering theoretical content effectively, it is associated with reduced clinical attendance and student motivation, especially during biomedical years which may negatively impact on skills acquisition. This study therefore assesses how online learning influences skill acquisition and identify strategies to balance online and practical training. Research objective: To evaluate the influence of online learning on the frequency of students practice and how it affects acquisition of practical skills. Methodology: A mixed-methods study was conducted with 40 randomly selected radiography students from Makerere University. Data was collected through electronic questionnaires (quantitative) and semi-structured interviews (qualitative), analyzed using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis. Ethical clearance was obtained, with confidentiality maintained through anonymization. Results: The study found radiography students spent 3 times more time on online learning than practical training (11-15 vs 0-5 hours weekly), with 65% reporting reduced practical attendance due to online classes. This correlated with low confidence in clinical skills (72.5% agreement), particularly at biomedical years (Year 1 students 12.5x more likely to lack confidence than year 4 students ). Key hindrances were overlapping schedules and demotivation, while proposed solutions were use of timetables (47.4%) and supervisor mentorship (47.4%). Recommendations: Introduce mentorship or supervisor based support for students. Pairing students with experienced clinicians or instructors who can monitor their progress and provide feedback will ensure that students receive guidance and are held accountable for their practical skills development. Give students collaborative tasks to increase motivation and group work among students.