Association between preference and e-learning readiness among the Bangladeshi female nursing students in the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic jeopardized the traditional academic learning calendars due to the closing of all educational institutions across the globe. To keep up with the flow of learning, most of the educational institutions shifted toward e-learning. However, the students’ e-learning preference for various subdomains of e-learning readiness did not identify, particularly among the female nursing students’ for a developing country like Bangladesh, where those domains pose serious challenges.ResultsA cross-sectional study was conducted among the female nursing students’ perceived e-learning readiness in subdomains of readiness; availability, technology use, self-confidence, and acceptance. The findings of the study revealed that the prevalence of preference for e-learning was 43.46%. The students did not prefer e-learning compared to ‘prefer group’ has significantly less availability of technology (β = -3.01, 95% CI: -4.46, -1.56), less use of technology (β = - 3.08, 95% CI: -5.11, -1.06), less self-confidence (β = -4.50, 95% CI: -7.02, -1.98), less acceptance (β = -5.96, 95% CI: -7.76, -4.16) and less training need (β = -1.86, 95% CI: -2.67, - 1.06). The age, degree, residence, parents’ highest education, having a single room, having any eye problems were significantly associated with the variation of availability of technology, use of technology, self-confidence, acceptance, and training need of e-learning.ConclusionsThe outcomes of the study could be helpful while developing an effective and productive e-learning infrastructure regarding the preparedness of nursing colleges for the continuation of academia in any adverse circumstances like the COVID-19 pandemic.