Online self-assessment tool in Biochemistry – A medical student's perception during COVID-19 pandemic

BACKGROUND: Online self-assessment tools have become an important asset among current teaching, learning, and assessment methods, especially among medical students. Developments in information technology and recent changes in methods of undergraduate learning, especially with the current COVID-19 pandemic situation, will provide an impetus among students to uptake this assessment tool. The study is aimed at bringing out the perception of medical students in using an online self-assessment tool in Biochemistry on the topics “Liver Function Tests” and “Renal Function Tests.” MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was an observational study conducted among 150 1(st) - year medical students employing an online self-assessment tool in Biochemistry, and the perception response toward the questionnaire was graded. RESULTS: The participation was 100%, with the perception questionnaire having a good internal validity (α = 0.847). The students' response was maximum for questions 9 and 10, which favored for provision of instantaneous feedback and application of the same tool for other topics. A positive correlation was observed between questionnaires for perceived learning and perceived engagement using the online self-assessment tool (r ± 0.554, P = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Self-assessment tools have an impact on the learning of students only when provided in a suitable environment such as immediate feedback and nonranking mechanisms.