Search

Problem-solving ability is an important competency for nursing students to enable them to solve various problems that occur in dynamic clinical settings. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to identify the factors that affect the problem-solving ability of nursing students. The subjects of this study were 192 nursing college students in their second year or beyond. The research tool consisted of an online questionnaire, with a total of 91 items regarding general characteristics, metacognition, and communication competence. Data collection was conducted from 10 to 30 March 2022. An online survey link was uploaded to the student group of a social network service from two nursing colleges that permitted data collection. Subjects who agreed to participate directly accessed and responded to the online survey. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and the factors associated with the problem-solving ability of nursing students were examined using hierarchical multiple regression analysis. The subjects’ mean problem-solving ability score was 3.63 out of 5. Factors affecting problem-solving ability were age, communication competence, and metacognition, among which metacognition had the greatest influence. These variables explained 51.2% of the problem-solving ability of nursing students. Thus, it is necessary to provide guidance to improve metacognition and to develop educational methods to improve communication competence in curricular and non-curricular courses to improve the problem-solving ability of nursing students.

Effective teaching methods are vital for cultivating advanced professional skills in nurses and equipping them with the necessary training. Problem-based learning (PBL) and self-directed learning (SDL) have been consistently used in nurse education. Therefore, their effects on nursing students’ academic performance warrant comparison. This study compared the effects of PBL and SDL on an adult nursing university curriculum. Participants in this quasi-experimental study with a pre-post non-equivalent control group design were 106 third-year nursing students divided into the PBL and SDL groups. Data collection, conducted from April to June 2019, included a pre-test before an eight-week intervention, followed by a post-test. Changes in the scores of each group were analyzed for learning motivation, self-directed learning ability, self-efficacy, learning confidence, learning satisfaction, and academic performance using paired and independent t-tests. The PBL group scored higher on learning motivation, self-directed learning ability, and academic performance than the SDL group. Based on these results, the PBL method was more effective than the SDL method in an adult nursing curriculum. To maximize the learning effect in adult nursing education, it is necessary to apply SDL education, including the PBL method, with a clearer learning process.

Aim To verify the usefulness of a smartphone application (App) for facilitating self-care in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Background CHB is a global health problem, and patients with CHB need to routinely perform self-care. Health-related smartphone apps could help users self-manage their disease. Methods Fifty-three CHB patients were assessed in this randomized controlled before-and-after experimental study. The patients were randomly and equally assigned to groups that did (n = 26) or did not (n = 27) use the smartphone app for 12 weeks. The experimental and control groups were analyzed for differences in disease knowledge, self-efficacy, and self-care before and after use of the smartphone app. Results After intervention, patients who used the app displayed significantly increased disease knowledge compared with the control group ( p = .015). Self-efficacy and self-care also significantly increased in the experimental group ( p = 0.006 and 0.001, respectively). Conclusion The smartphone app can be useful for increasing self-care in CHB patients. Abbreviations: App: application, CHB: chronic hepatitis B, CVI: content validity

This study aimed to develop a mobile application (app), for the selfmanagement performance of patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). The mobile app was developed in five stages by analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation. And 19 systems were modified. Mobile app for self-management performance of patients with CHB was developed. Developed a mobile app is expected to be helpful in managing self-management can be a disease-related knowledge and promote self-efficacy in CHB.