Investigating perceptions and attitude toward telenursing among undergraduate nursing students for the future of nursing education: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background Telenursing is poised to emerge as a novel healthcare delivery system in the digital age. Hence, understanding nursing students' perspectives and readiness is pivotal for its effective implementation. This study investigated nursing students' perceptions regarding and attitudes toward telenursing and the factors that influenced their attitudes based on the technology acceptance model. Methods This study used a cross-sectional descriptive approach. The participants were nursing students (first to fourth year) enrolled in the College of Nursing in Korea. Differences in attitudes toward telenursing were analyzed using independent t-test and one-way analysis of variance. Pearson’s correlation coefficient was used to examine the correlations between the main variables. Factors that influenced attitudes toward telenursing were analyzed using multiple regression. Results Of the participants, 65.4% lacked substantial awareness of telenursing and 19.1% had prior telenursing experience. Although prospects on telenursing indicated that 90.4% had an optimistic view, face-to-face nursing was heavily preferred for both satisfactory and favored healthcare delivery. Many cited the Internet as their source of knowledge, and only 18.6% had received telenursing education. Attitude toward telenursing was significantly more positive among those with telenursing education and experience and experience of observing telenursing during clinical practice. The regression model was statistically significant (F = 67.445, p < .000). Factors, such as perceived usefulness, social influence, innovativeness, and self-efficacy, influenced attitudes toward telenursing. Conclusions Nursing students exhibited a lack of substantial awareness of telenursing; however, they simultaneously displayed a positive outlook. This lack of comprehensive understanding could stem from the absence of formal education in telenursing. Understanding and utilizing the potential of telenursing could be significantly aided by nursing students' education and knowledge. Thus, including telenursing education in the nursing curriculum is necessary. The skills and knowledge required for telenursing clinical practice can be developed through telenursing education. Such preparedness will affect nurses’ attitudes and intentions and the quality of telenursing offered to patients in the future.