Undergraduate Nursing Students’ Satisfaction with blended e-learning following the Covid-19 pandemic
Abstract Background: Blended learning has recently been introduced as an addition to the existing teaching programme of nursing students at X University. The aim of this study is to assess student satisfaction with this change.Methods: A 35 item questionnaire was circulated to all male and female nursing students in their 2nd, 3rd and 4th years of study. The questionnaire was subdivided into the five domains of Interaction, Instruction, Instructor, Course Management and Technology.Results: Mean satisfaction scores for male and female nursing undergraduates was significantly greater than 3 (neutral score) in all domains of enquiry indicating good satisfaction with blended learning (p<0.001). Domain scores were also significantly greater than those of a comparator study in four of the five domains (p<0.030) and similar in the domain of Technology (p=0.677). Male and female levels of satisfaction were similar in 80% of the survey questions, but female satisfaction was significantly lower in some questions concerning technology (p<0.003), willingness to interrupt the instructor (p=0.021), comparison of blended learning and face-to-face teaching (p=0.002) and timely feedback on tests and assignments (p=0.031). Fourth year students showed highest levels of satisfaction across all five domains. Overall questionnaire reliability exceeded 90% and matched that of a comparable study elsewhere.Conclusion: Undergraduate nursing students reported high levels of satisfaction and demonstrated nascent technological skill, resilience and fortitude when presented with the immediate implementation of an unfamiliar e-learning blended curriculum environment.