Teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic

Objectives. The purpose of the study was to assess students opinion and attitudes towards online teaching during the period of emergncy measures in summer semester of the academic year 2019/2020 caused by the COVID- 19 pandemic. Materials and methods. The study was performed by means of an annonimous questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted of a few parts that questioned students sociodemographic status, attitudes and opinion of online teaching. The data were statistically processed using SPSS software. Results. Of the total of 357 respondents, 13.1% were first year students, 19.0% second, 15.1% third, 17.9% fourth, 20.2% fifth and 14.8% last year of schooling. More than 60% reported feelings of insecurity and fear due to introduction of emergency measures in the Republic of Croatia. More than 17% found studying harder than usually, and 19.3% were not equally motivated to study. 8% of the respondents found adaptation in knowledge assessment (with PPE -gloves and face masks) as a source of stress and 13% reported taking online exams at homes stressfull. 20 % reported that suspension of practical courses affected their knowledge during knowledge assessments and 16% would master the curriculum more successfully in direct contact with the teacher. More than 88% reported awareness of risk associated with dental profession due to COVD- 19 pandemic outbreak. Conclusion. Due to uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, lectures and prac- tical courses were held online. The results given indicate online lectures are as valuable as on-site lecture and suspension of practical courses cant be fully compensated.