Use of the Virtual Health Classroom by Cuban students of medical sciences

Abstract

Introduction: virtual classrooms have shown spectacular growth in the last third of the 20^th century, which is a good indicator of the productive power of the use of information and communication technologies. Objective: to describe the use of the Virtual Health Classroom by Cuban students of medical sciences. Method: an observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study was carried out. The universe, made up of 126 students, was fully studied. A descriptive statistical analysis was performed. Results: the participation of students from the University of Medical Sciences of Cienfuegos predominated, with 52 (41,3 %). Medical students stood out (103; 81,7 %). Of the total number of respondents, 60,3 % (n = 76) had knowledge about the Virtual Health Classroom. 74 students (58,7 %) had accessed it. The frequency of access of once a month prevailed (n = 24; 19 %). The search for information and participation in scientific events stood out as the main objectives of use (n = 34; 27 %). The cause that generated the greatest impediment to navigation was ignorance of how to access it, referred to by 33 students (26,2 %). Conclusions: the use of the Virtual Health Classroom has become popular during the confrontation with COVID-19. The use of the virtual environment has increased in all academic years and careers in the medical sciences, especially in third year medical students, which is related to knowledge and access to the Virtual Classroom.