Comparing the Effect of Web-based Networking Education and Lectures on Learning of Hospital Triage in Nursing Students in Armed Forces Universities of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the Covid-19 Pandemic

Sufficient knowledge and skills are required for proper triage of patients by nurses. Therefore, training nursing students who will be working as nurses in the future with a proper approach in the field of triage is essential.

This study aimed to determine the effect of web-based networking education and lecture on hospital triage in nursing students in selected universities of the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran during the Covid-19 pandemic.

This quasi-experimental study was conducted between 2019 and 2021. The participants were selected by census method and divided into two experimental groups (web-based networking education and lecture) and a control group. A valid and reliable researcher-made questionnaire and a skill appraisal checklist for hospital triage were used for data collection.

In the web-based networking group, the mean scores of the knowledge (15.30±3.75 vs. 27.20±1.36) and skill (20.80±3.45 vs. 27.90±1.16) significantly increased in the post-test. In the lecture group, the mean scores of the knowledge (18.95±1.82 vs. 27.05±0.88) and the skill (23.50±2.66 vs. 27.50±1.10) increased in the post-test. Also, in the control group, the mean scores of the knowledge (17.90±2.29 vs. 19.50±2.30) and the skill increased from (22.65±2.56 vs. 25±1.37) in the post-test. The mean difference of knowledge and skill scores of nursing students in the three groups were significantly different so that the mean difference scores of knowledge and skill in the web-based networking group were higher than other groups.

Students’ knowledge and skills were further enhanced in the web-based networking group. Further studies with higher sample sizes are recommended.