Acceptability, attitude, and satisfaction of online learning among nursing students during COVID-19 lockdown: a cross sectional study

Introduction: Due to the current Novel Corona Virus (COVID-19) pandemic related lockdown in India, regular classes are suspended to maintain social distancing. Educational institutions are now opting for online learning to facilitate and continue with the academic schedule of students. Aim: To evaluate the acceptability, attitude, and satisfaction of online learning among nursing students during COVID-19 lockdown. Settings and design: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 193 nursing students of a nursing college attached to private medical college and hospital, through online Google Forms questionnaires. Materials: Semi-structured proforma for socio-demographic details, Social Presence Scale (SPS), and related Satisfaction Scale (SS) were used for evaluation. Statistical analysis: Sociodemographic details were mainly descriptive and categories compared using Pearson’s correlation test and ordinal variables using Spearman’s Rho correlation. Results: The mean age of 20.01 years (Standard Deviation (SD) = 1.42), the mean score of SPS was 44.75 (SD=5.89) and that of SS was 31.12 (SD=7.59). SPS and SS scores correlated significantly (P<.000), with a strong positive correlation coefficient of .602. Positive attitude towards online learning was found in 61.7% of students, and 62.7% opined their experience to be satisfactory. Conclusion: This study shows that nursing students show adequate acceptability, positive attitudes, and higher satisfaction levels related to online learning, as determined by Social Presence Theory, during COVID-19 lockdown in India.