Examination of the Attitudes of Nursing and Midwifery Students Receiving Distance Education during the COVID-19 Pandemic towards Mobile Learning

Abstract

Objective: This descriptive study was conducted to determine the attitudes of nursing and midwifery students receiving distance education during the COVID-19 pandemic toward mobile learning. Methods: The population of this study comprised 618 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th year students enrolled in the Faculty of Health Sciences Nursing Department and Department of Midwifery. There was no sample selection and research was completed with 238 students who volunteered to participate in the study. A questionnaire form and the Mobile Learning Attitude Scale (MLAS) were used to collect data. Results: The mean MLAS score of the female students was 58 ± 11.5 and the mean score of male students was 58 ± 16.0. There was no difference between the total scale and sub-scale scores with respect to sex, age, the department, and year of students (p > 0.05). During the COVID-19 pandemic, students mostly used their smartphones to access the internet. The most significant advantage of M-learning was the ease of use and access; however, the disadvantage was that education was not efficient and effective. Moreover, the biggest difficulty experienced by students in mobile education during the COVID-19 pandemic was internet access and the associated cost. The majority of students who participated in this study felt that M-learning did not affect their academic achievements but was not suitable for nursing and midwifery students. Conclusions: The attitudes of nursing and midwifery students toward M-learning during the COVID-19 pandemic were moderate.