Comparison of Learning Facilitated by Traditional and Virtual Case Studies for Teaching the Nursing Approach to Care

Abstract

Aim: The objective of this study is to investigate the adoption of these two strategies for teaching the steps of the care process to Moroccan nursing students. We attempt to answer the following questions: What is the preference of nursing students between traditional case studies and virtual case studies? What are their suggestions for improving teaching practices? According to their point of view, which of the teaching strategies is more conducive to the appropriation of knowledge and the development of skills related to the care process? Background: Case-based learning has long been one of the active teaching strategies widely used by nursing educators. However, the constraints inherent to traditional case study learning have prompted educators to seek alternative teaching practices. Today, virtual case studies are recognised as one of the most recommended and innovative teaching approaches to address these constraints in the nursing context. Objective: the present study aims to explore students' perceptions of traditional case studies and virtual case studies as facilitated learning methods for teaching the nursing process. Methods: We conducted a questionnaire survey at the Higher Institute of Nursing Professions and Health Techniques Casablanca in 2021 among first-year polyvalent nursing students. The course ‘Conceptualization and Care Planning’ was taught based on these two different pedagogies. Results: Comparing the means via a t-test of the paired samples showed that there was a significant difference for all items (p-value<0.005) between learning facilitated by traditional case studies and virtual case studies. Conclusion: These results demonstrate that virtual case studies are an innovative and well-received educational tool for nursing students compared to traditional case studies.