Predicting nursing students' intention to attend face‐to‐face classes on school reopening: A theory of planned behavior application.

Background: The COVID‐19 pandemic has resulted in school closures and the reopening of schools is considered to be a possible approach to start reversing learning deficits. However, the literature is scarce on the determinants of intention to attend face‐to‐face classes among nursing students. Method: This cross‐sectional study examined students' intention to attend limited face‐to‐face classes on school reopening, and its association among the core constructs of the Theory of Planned Behavior. Undergraduate nursing students of one university in the Philippines (n = 322) answered an online questionnaire. Predictor variables were determined by multiple linear regression analysis. Results: Results demonstrated that nursing students had a high intention (4.47 of 5) to attend limited face‐to‐face classes. First‐ and second‐year students had significantly higher intention to attend limited face‐to‐face classes than third‐ and fourth‐year nursing students. Multiple regression analysis suggested that attitude (β =.127, p =.001), subjective norm (β =.400, p =.000), and perceived behavioral control (β =.326, p =.000) positively predicted students' intention to attend face‐to‐face classes. Conclusion: As many schools prepare for the gradual reopening of campuses, the different beliefs of students may be considered by nursing schools to better understand students' intention for face‐to‐face instruction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]