Journal of Education and Health Promotion 2277-9531 12 4 2022 04 01 Explaining medical students’ perceptions of asynchronous virtual education in the COVID‑19 pandemic: A qualitative study 1 7 29898 EN . Roghieh Sodeify . Zeinab Habibpour Department of Psychiatric Nursing, School of Nursing, Khoy University of Medical Sciences, Khoy, Iran . Masoumeh Akbarbegloo Department of Pediatric Nursing, School of Nursing, Khoy University of Medical Sciences, Khoy, Iran Journal Article 2023 03 22 INTRODUCTION: With the unintended closure of classrooms following the outbreak of COVID‑19, the <br />virtual education method is used as an alternative to face‑to‑face education. Virtual education is one <br />of the important factors in promoting the learning of medical students and has many benefits such as <br />increasing the ability of critical thinking, problem‑solving skills, and self‑directed learning. However, <br />critically examining students’ perceptions of e‑learning can help improve quality and better planning.<br />MATERIALS AND METHODS: This research was a qualitative study. Twelve students were enrolled <br />in the study based on purposive sampling. Data were collected using in‑depth semi‑structured <br />interviews in 2020. All interviews were recorded and then transcribed and analyzed using a continuous <br />comparison and conventional content analysis approach.<br />RESULTS: Data analysis revealed four main themes and ten subthemes. The main themes included <br />“student concern,” “teacher barriers,” “technology weakness,” and “asynchronous virtual learning <br />flexibility.”<br />CONCLUSION: Asynchronous e‑learning in the COVID‑19 outbreak had its advantages and <br />disadvantages. By analyzing students’ perceptions in this field, some better designs and planning <br />can be done to increase the quality of education.<br /><br /> https://jehp.mui.ac.ir/article_29898_1db74d751f349b9181b417a09c866afc.pdf