Nursing students’ self-directed learning abilities and related factors at graduation: A multi-country cross-sectional study

Abstract

<p>Aim<br>To describe nursing students’ level of self-directed learning abilities and identify possible factors related to it at graduation in six European countries.</p><p>Design<br>A cross-sectional comparative design across the countries.</p><p>Methods<br>The study was conducted from February 2018 to September 2019. Nursing students (N = 4,135) from the Czech Republic, Finland, Italy, Portugal, Slovakia and Spain were invited to respond to the research instruments (the Self-Rating Scale of Self-Directed Learning and the Nurse Competence Scale) at graduation. The data were analysed using the chi-square test, Pearson correlation coefficient and the linear model.</p><p>Results<br>The nursing students’ (N = 1,746) overall self-directed learning abilities were at high level in all countries. Statistically significant differences occurred between countries. Spanish nursing students reported the highest level of self-directed learning abilities while students from the Czech Republic reported the lowest. Higher level of self-directed learning abilities was related to several factors, particularly with the self-assessed level of competence and country.</p>