Evaluation of covid 19 impact on the learning strategies of health science students: a survey

Background: The lockdown period following the COVID 19 pandemic has affected students in many ways. The present study aims to investigate any changes in learning practice during this pandemic. We conducted this study to investigate any variations in the learning approach by health science students during the Covid 19 pandemic and also to assess possible confounding factors on learning. Methods: A survey was conducted on 630 health science students from South Indian states through 2 pre-validated questionnaires - Approaches and Study Skills Inventory for Students (ASSIST) and Generalised Anxiety Disorder Assessment (GAD 7), to assess learning approach and anxiety levels respectively. Another set of questionnaire consisting 10 questions were prepared that may affect learning approach. These questionnaires were shared via Google forms across various health science institutions of South India. Results: A signicant decrease in strategic and deep learning scores and increase in surface learning scores were observed after Covid 19 pandemic. Anxiety scores were increased after pandemic. A signicant negative correlation was observed between change in deep learning scores vs change in anxiety scores and change in strategic scores vs change anxiety scores. A positive correlation was observed between change in surface learning scores vs anxiety scores. Decrease in strategic and deep learning scores were signicantly correlated with students perceptions on worsening study environment, decreased effectiveness of academic assessments, decreased time devoted for studies, decreased ability to gure out high yielding questions and a decreased ability to frame quality answers. Increase in surface learning negatively correlated with worsening study environment and decreased study time. A negative correlation was observed between suitable study environment and change in anxiety scores. Conclusion: Increased anxiety level was associated with decrease in deep and strategic learning and increase in surface learning approach after Covid 19 pandemic. Appropriate measures are essential to improve students' academic performance