Effect of integrated English hybrid learning for undergraduate nursing students on students’ self-perceived communication competence and communication apprehension: A quasi-experiment study

Abstract

AimTo demonstrate the self-perceived communication competence and communication apprehension of nursing students before and after taking English for Nursing courses. BackgroundDespite the growing demand for English as a foreign language courses for nursing students in Indonesia, relatively little research has been conducted to investigate whether these courses meet students’ specific learning needs to increase communication competency. DesignQuasi-experiment. MethodsA total of 173 undergraduate nursing students participated and had access to the mixed-methods learning system of integrated English hybrid learning from August through December 2021. The learning methods involved lectures, tutorials, and project-based learning on multiple platforms, such as LiVE Unpad, WhatsApp, and Zoom. Communication competence and apprehension in the English Language were assessed using the Self-Perceived Communication Competence and Communication Apprehension questionnaires via Google Form, and were analyzed using the paired t-test and ANOVA. ResultsThe findings suggest that English for Nursing courses significantly increased self-perceived communication competence and communication apprehension among nursing students (p < 0.001 for both). A variance test revealed favorability for self-perceived communication apprehension in groups that enjoyed learning English and for communication apprehension in groups that read English texts frequently and rarely. ConclusionsIntegrated English hybrid learning for undergraduate nursing students effectively increased their self-perceived communication competence and communication apprehension in undergraduate nursing students. However, this approach cannot be applied to all nursing education levels. A combination of the current and new approaches, as suggested by educators and policymakers, should make it applicable to the desired level of nursing education.