Publication:

Self-efficacy of online learning among nursing students during COVID-19 pandemic

Background Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic led to unprecedented effect over the nursing education. First time exposure of the nursing students with the digital learning has raised a question regarding their self-efficacy in navigating the online courses effectively. This study aimed to assess the self- efficacy of online learning among nursing students during Covid-19 pandemic.

Methods A descriptive cross-sectional web-based survey was conducted between May to June 2021 to assess the self-efficacy of online learning among nursing students in India. Data collection was done through Google forms that was sent to all the potential respondents through email, messenger and whatsapp. Online learning self-efficacy scale (OLSES) was used for assessing the efficacy of online learning.

Results Online survey was completed by 332 nursing students from various nursing colleges of Uttar Pradesh and New Delhi, India. Majority (81.6%) of the participants were female. Nearly half (50.9%) of them were satisfied with the online classes. Maximum (77.4%) had poor self- efficacy scores in learning domain. Only 77 (23.2%) of students had overall good online learning self-efficacy.

Conclusions The study revealed that majority of the nursing students had poor overall as well as domain wise online learning self-efficacy scores, which highlights the need for urgent identification of possible predictors. Appropriate skill-based trainings should be designed and provided to the students before exposing them to the online learning. This will aid them in gaining confidence and mastery in the skill of navigating the online courses.