Self-efficacy and Online Learning Readiness of Undergraduate Dental Students in Pakistan During COVID-19 Pandemic

To investigate the correlation between general self-efficacy and online learning readiness among Pakistani undergraduate dental students.

Cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of the Study: Riphah International University, Islamabad, between September 2020 and March 2021.

Using cluster sampling, three dental colleges of Islamabad and Rawalpindi were selected. Electronic questionnaires were sent to 750 students. The questionnaire was comprised of two instruments, General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES), and Online Learning Readiness Scale (OLRS). GSES had 10-items with response measurement on four-point Likert scale, while the OLRS had 18 items in five different domains measured by five-point Likert scale. Data were analysed using SPSS-23. Correlation between dependent variables was calculated using linear regression analysis.

The response rate was 59.3% with a predominant response from female students (82.2%) compared with male students (17.8%). The majority of responses were recorded from third year students (27.9%). The year four students' scores for GSE, computer and internet self-efficacy, and self-directed learning differed significantly from other students. The overall mean GSE score was 29.37+4.57. Regression indicated a low degree of correlation between GSE and the five domains of OLRS with r2 values ranging from 0.12 to 0.32.

A weak to moderate correlation was found between self-efficacy and the five dimensions of online learning readiness among Pakistani undergraduate dental students as depicted by the r-values.

Cross-sectional studies, Dental education, Dental students, Dentistry, Efficacy, Online learning, Questionnaire.