The Mediating Role of Medical Students’ Attitudes towards Distance Education in the Relationship between E-Learning Styles and Academic Achievements

Abstract

The COVID-19 global outbreak is a growing concern for continuing medical education. The COVID-19 pandemic has led many medical education programs to be carried out online in the world. This research aims to examine the mediating effect of attitudes towards distance education in explaining the relationship between e-learning styles and academic achievements of students in medical education conducted online. The research was carried out on 148 students studying in a six-year medical program at a university. In the research, students completed the e-learning styles scale, attitude scale towards distance education, and online questionnaire include some demographic information via Moodle-based Learning Management System (LMS). In addition, end of year grade point averages of the students was also used within the scope of the research. In the research, the direct effect of e-learning styles on the grade point average and an indirect effect on attitude towards distance education were tested with the mediation model. It was determined that gender is not a significant variable on e-learning styles and attitudes towards distance education. It was observed that students with higher daily internet usage times had higher attitudes towards distance education. In the research, it was observed that the attitude towards distance education has a mediating effect on the relationship between e-learning style and academic success. It is important to consider e-learning styles and attitudes towards distance education to increase academic success in online medical courses and provide better learning outcomes.