Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Nursing
Date Submitted: Dec 22, 2023
Open Peer Review Period: Jan 15, 2024 - Mar 11, 2024
Date Accepted: Sep 13, 2024
(closed for review but you can still tweet)
Comparative Effectiveness: Health Communication on the Internet, mHealth, and Social Media vs. Traditional Methods - A Nursing Student's Perspective
ABSTRACT
Background:
Background:
Effective communication is vital in healthcare, especially for nursing students who are the future of healthcare delivery. In Iraq's nursing education landscape, characterized by challenges like resource constraints and infrastructural limitations, understanding communication modalities is crucial.
Objective:
Objectives: This mixed-methods study conducted in two nursing colleges aims to explore and compare the effectiveness of health communication on the Internet, through mobile health (mHealth) applications, and via social media among nursing students in Iraq. The research addresses a gap in understanding communication modalities specific to Iraq and explores the perspectives, experiences, and challenges faced by nursing students.
Methods:
Methods:
Qualitative interviews were conducted with a purposive sample (n=30), and a structured survey was distributed to a larger sample (n=300) representing diverse educational programs. The study employed a nuanced approach to gather insights into the preferences and usage patterns of nursing students regarding communication modalities. The study was conducted between the 12th of January 2023 and to 5th of May 2023.
Results:
Results:
Qualitative findings highlight nursing students' reliance on the Internet for educational materials, the significant role of mHealth applications in clinical skill development, and the emergence of social media platforms as community-building tools. Quantitative results reveal high-frequency Internet use (92%) for educational purposes, regular mHealth application usage (68%) in clinical settings, and active engagement on social media platforms (80%). Traditional methods such as face-to-face interactions (72%) and practical experiences (85%) remain preferred for developing essential skills.
Conclusions:
Conclusions:
The study underscores nursing students' preference for an integrated approach, recognizing the complementary strengths of traditional and digital methods. Challenges include concerns about information accuracy and ethical considerations in digital spaces. The findings emphasize the need for curriculum adjustments that seamlessly integrate diverse communication modalities to create a dynamic learning environment. Educators play a crucial role in shaping this integration, emphasizing the enduring value of face-to-face interactions and practical experiences while harnessing the benefits of digital resources. Clear guidelines on professional behavior online are essential. Overall, the study expands the understanding of communication modalities among nursing students in Iraq and provides valuable insights for healthcare education stakeholders globally. Clinical Trial: NA
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