Examining the Efficacy of Online Self-Paced Interactive Video-Recordings in Nursing Skill Competency Learning: Seeking Preliminary Evidence Through an Action Research.

Abstract

A key challenge in nursing education is how to teach the students clinical competencies effectively and to provide opportunities for practicing the fundamental nursing skills safely. The purpose of this study was to examine the competency scores of practicing a clinical skill and the satisfaction level of nursing students on three instructional methods using an action research: the online self-paced interactive video learning, demonstration-only method, and a video demonstration in class. Participants were both male and female nursing students enrolled in the Foundations of Nursing Course (N = 26, 6 males and 20 females; mean age = 19.42 ± 0.50) and were evaluated at precycle, postcycle 1, and postcycle 2. Each cycle of inquiry was planned to address the problems quickly and efficiently through four steps: planning, acting, observing, and reflecting. A triangulation technique was employed for data collection using a competency skill evaluation checklist, a satisfaction questionnaire, and a focus group feedback questionnaire. A video was developed in the researcher's college pertaining to the practical skills. Each research cycle was successively built up on one another using the reflections and feedback from the students based on the previous cycle. The competency skills at various cycles did not demonstrate significant differences between three instructional methods, whereas satisfaction score was the highest with the online self-paced interactive video demonstration. Online video learning use as a supplement in nursing instruction is well supported and offers a promising alternative in teaching clinical skill compared with other teaching strategies. However, more rigorous studies are required to get further empirical evidence in replacing the demonstration method, for teaching nursing practical skill and in improving students' learning ability and competence.