Types of ICT applications used and the skills’ level of nursing students in higher education: A cross-sectional survey

Abstract

Background: The healthcare system is increasingly becoming technology dependent; consequently, nurses in all regions of the world are expected to develop their information and communication technology (ICT) skills, and integrating ICT in the nursing curriculum is fundamental. Aim: This study aims to explore the types of ICT applications used and the skills level of nursing students at a selected university in South Africa. Methods: A non-experimental, descriptive quantitative research design was used in this study, and it was conducted at a selected university in South Africa. A total number of 150 nursing students participated in this study. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and were analysed using SPSS version 25. Findings: The majority of the respondents reported being skilled in using Word processing application (Ms Word) (86.7%), Ms PowerPoint (70.7%), Moodle (81.3%), and online resources (74.7%). However, 82% reported not being skilled to use SPSS for data analysis, and 65.3% were not skilled in using reference manager applications (EndNote). Data indicated that there was a progressive increase in skills with the level of the study, with upper levels being more skilled than the lower levels (K = 22.625, p = .001). The ownership of digital devices, such as laptops and tablets, was significantly associated with the skills level of using ICT applications (p < .05). Conclusion: The use of technology in nursing education is essential to prepare future nurses for the information technology-rich workplace. Keywords: Nursing informatics, ICT in education, Nursing students, Technology in education, Higher education