Perception of University Nursing Students and Their Basic Psychological Needs in Blended Learning

Abstract

Background: Blended learning, which integrates face-to-face and online instruction, is increasingly being adopted. It has the potential to enhance nursing students' satisfaction and competence, independence, and relatedness. Aim: This study aimed to assess the perception of university nursing students and their basic psychological needs in blended learning. Design: A descriptive relational study design was utilized in this study. Setting: This study was carried out at Faculty of Nursing-Ain Shams University. It includes seven scientific departments. Subjects: A convenient sample of 159 university nursing students enrolled in fourth academic year (2022-2-23). Data collection tool: Data was gathered using the following 1) Structured interview questionnaire to assess university nursing students’ demographic data; 2) students’ perception on blended learning scale; and 3) basic psychological needs satisfaction scale. Results: date analysis shows that the majority of the studied subject had a positive perception of blended learning and its implementation process, also the majority of them had satisfied basic psychological needs regarding relatedness and autonomy and more than two thirds of them had satisfied basic psychological needs regarding competence. There was a highly statistically significant difference between the studied university nursing students’ basic psychological needs satisfaction and total level of perception and its implementation process regarding blended learning. There were positive correlations between university nursing students’ relatedness, autonomy, competence and, their total perception regarding blended learning. Conclusions: University nursing students with satisfied basic psychological needs had a positive perception in blended learning. Recommendations: Designing and implementing educational program in the latest advance in blended learning approaches to enhance university nursing students’ skills, as well as implementing periodic scientific seminars for university nursing students about strategies to develop basic psychological needs in blended learning.