Online digital health and informatics education for undergraduate nursing students in China: impacts and recommendations

Abstract Background Digital health plays a vital role in healthcare services. Governments in many countries, including China, are increasingly advocating for the appropriate use of digital technologies to address significant health system challenges. It is crucial to incorporate digital health education into the curriculum for future nurses to adapt to the changes in the digital medical system. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of an online Digital Health and Informatics Course in China on the knowledge and comprehension of key digital health and informatics topics, self-assessment of nursing informatics competencies, and satisfaction among undergraduate nursing students. The findings of this study provide recommendations for the design and implementation of future digital health education. Methods This study employed a one-group, quasi-experimental mixed-methods design with pre- and post-assessments. The participants received digital health and informatics education through six three-hour online sessions in six interactive days, with online self-learning materials in between. An online quiz and focus group discussions pre- and post the course were designed to evaluate the knowledge and comprehension of key digital health and informatics topics. Also, a validated Chinese version of the Self-assessment of Nursing Informatics Competencies Scale was conducted pre- and post-course to assess self-assessment of nursing informatics competencies. Additionally, all students were invited to participate in an online survey with a performance-focused course evaluation form as well as focus group discussions to gather their feedback on the learning experience and their evaluations of the course. Results A total of 24 undergraduate nursing students were enrolled in the course. All students completed all sessions of this course, resulting in an attendance rate of 100%. Additionally, all students completed both pre- and post-assessments. In terms of the knowledge and comprehension of key digital health and informatics topics, scores of the quiz on knowledge assessment improved from the pre-test [mean pretest score: 78.33 (SD 6.005)] to the post-test [mean post-test score: 83.17 (SD 4.86)] upon completion of the course (P