Factors affecting nursing student acceptance of online learning under the COVID-19 pandemic

The advantages of online learning are enhancing independence and incentive of students for learning, improving the connection between individuals and making flexibility in time and place for doing the activity. This study endeavored to determine factors affecting nursing students’ acceptance of online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic

This cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study that was done with a sample of students on Islamic Azad University of Gorgan and Neishaboor's. Convenience sampling was done and 368 of 500 students participated in the study. The questionnaire consisted of demographic questions, educational information and translated questionnaires that included student perceptions of an online course, University student engagement inventory and acceptance of online learning. Descriptive statistics were employed to assess demographic characteristics simple and multiple linear regression models were used to analyze the predictor variables of students' acceptance of online learning. Pvalue<0.05 was considered for all tests.

The effective factors on student's acceptance for online learning was widespread high-speed Internet access at home, increasing the quality of connection to Internet and increasing the quality of laptop, tablet or mobile phone. On the other hand, multiple linear regression results showed only the remaining variables in the model were increasing the score of the course content (β=0.18, P<0.001), teacher-student interaction (β=0.14, P=0.001), and the students' engagement (β=0.22, P>0.001). It is of note that this model had an explanatory power of 46%.

According to the results of the study, if teachers strengthen the content of the course and create the creativity in interaction and use of all the features of the online learning system, we can hope that the rate of online learning acceptance among students will increase.