Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34290764›Full record

ArticlePakistan journal of medical sciences

Online assessment in undergraduate medical education: Challenges and solutions from a LMIC university.

Syeda Sadia Fatima, Romana Idrees, Kausar Jabeen, Saniya Sabzwari, Sadaf Khan

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Pakistan journal of medical sciences. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 9 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
9citing papers in PubMed
7.1field-weighted citation impact, top 3% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

9 citing papers in PubMed, 37 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. E-learning Challenges among Healthcare Students: A Scoping Review.Journal of advances in medical education & professionalism · 2026
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  7. Introducing ACTFAiRESTBMC nursing · 2022
    Article
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  9. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Syeda Sadia FatimaSyeda Sadia Fatima, PhD. Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan.
Romana IdreesRomana Idrees, FCPS. Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan.
Kausar JabeenKausar Jabeen, FCPS. Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan.
Saniya SabzwariSaniya Sabzwari, MD. Department of Family Medicine, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan.
Sadaf KhanSadaf Khan, MD. Department of Surgery, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan.
Aga Khan University · PK

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND

objectivesThe Covid-19 pandemic has caused large-scale disruption in almost all educational programs across the world. Planning and rapid implementation of assessment through an online format presents the next set of novel challenges that must be addressed by academic administrations across the globe.

methodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted between March to August 2020 at the Aga Khan University Medical College. Two hundred medical students of year 1 and 2 participated in the study. We describe the planning, processes, and outcomes of online assessments using video communication platforms conducted at a private university in Pakistan. Standardized protocols were written and piloted, extensive training of student, proctors and staff for preparation and conduct of online assessments were developed. Feedback was recorded after each session and suggestions were incorporated in subsequent high-stakes assessments.

resultsA total of three pilot assessments were conducted to identify issues and process refinement. Commercially available lockdown browser and ZOOM were used in the first pilot; 80% of the class was unable to launch lockdown browser and laptops required repeated reload/reboot. For the second pilot assessment, University's VLE page & MS Teams was trailed. Issues with internet connectivity, VLE page slowdown, and suboptimal recording feature in MS Teams were identified. For the final pilot assessment, phased launching of VLE page with single test item per page was implemented with success. The students reported that attempting the online exam on VLE with ZOOM support was user friendly. Ninety percent of the class was supportive of the continuing with the online assessments.

conclusionIn order to device an effective protocol for e-assessments conducting multiple trial runs, and incorporating feedback from all stakeholders is a necessity.

Indexed as

assessmentsE-assessmentsMedical educationOnline teaching and learningVirtual learning environment

Identifiers

PMID34290764
PMCPMC8281159
OpenAlexW3157494379

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.