Social Presence in Distance Education among Medical Students during COVID-۱۹ Pandemic

Background: Online social presence is one of the main contributors which has a significant impact on student's academic performance.Objectives: The present study aimed to assess the online social presence among medical students using the Persian Version of the Online Social Presence Questionnaire (OSPQ) after determining its psychometric properties.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on ۳۰۳ medical students at Kerman University of Medical Sciences in ۲۰۲۱. The participants were selected through quota sampling. A two-part online questionnaire containing demographic data and the Persian version of the Online Social Presence Questionnaire (OSPQ) was used for data collection. Exploratory and Confirmatory factor analysis was conducted using SPSS version ۲۰.۰ and LISREL version ۸.۸۰. Internal consistency of the Persian version was determined. ANOVA, Independent T-test, and multiple linear regression were also used. The significance level was considered as ۰.۰۵.Results: Out of ۳۰۳ medical students, ۶۳.۷ percent were female with a mean age of ۲۲.۸۳±۲.۸۴ years. The mean score of the social identity subscale (P = ۰.۰۰۱) and the total score (P = ۰.۰۳) was significantly higher in females. Also, the mean of the intimacy subscale was significantly higher in interns and basic sciences students compared to pre-clinical students. (P = ۰.۰۰۶) The Cronbach alpha coefficient ranged from ۰.۷۰ to ۰.۹۳ for the whole scale and its subscales. The factor loading of all items was at an acceptable level ranging from ۰.۴ to ۰.۹۵. Almost all of the goodness of fit indices had excellent levels.Conclusion: Our study revealed that the Persian version of OSPQ is a simple, valid, and reliable tool to assess medical students’ sense of social presence in an online environment.

Keywords:

Social Presence , Online learning , Distance Education , Medical students , Iran