The survey of nursing students’ attitude towards virtual education and its relationship with their satisfaction during the Covid-19 epidemic: A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic has increased virtual education use. This study aimed to determine the attitude of nursing students of Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences towards virtual education and its relationship with their satisfaction during the Covid-19 pandemic. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This descriptive-analytical study was conducted during 2020–2021 with the participation of 229 nursing students (undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral) who had spent at least one semester virtually at Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences. The sampling method was convenience. The data collection tool was a questionnaire consisting of three parts. The first part included students' demographic information and the second and third parts included the standard questionnaire of individual development and educational assessment to determine students' attitudes toward virtual education and their satisfaction with this type of education. IBM SPSS statistics 22 software and descriptive and analytical statistical tests were used for data analysis. RESULTS: According to the study results, the mean score of students' attitudes toward virtual education was 35.1 ± 11.3 and the mean score of students' satisfaction with this educational method was 88.3 ± 30.6, both of which are at the desired level. Also, a direct relationship was found between students' attitudes and satisfaction scores (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: In this study, the attitude of nursing students to virtual education and their satisfaction with this educational method had been at the desired level. Therefore, the relevant authorities should also consider the necessary planning in the field of using this educational method and improving students' attitudes towards it under normal conditions.