Utilization of Social Media and E-Professionalism in Nursing Students of Selected Nursing Colleges in Pokhara

Mahato Janaki; Thapa Bindu; Chhetri K Deepti; Poudel Sharmila

doi:10.36648/2472-1654.21.6.006

Research Article - (2021) Volume 6, Issue 3

Utilization of Social Media and E-Professionalism in Nursing Students of Selected Nursing Colleges in Pokhara

Mahato Janaki^*, Thapa Bindu, Chhetri K Deepti and Poudel Sharmila

Department of Nursing Sciences, Gandaki Medical College, Pokhara, Nepal

*Corresponding Author:: Mahato Janaki
Department of Nursing Sciences
Gandaki Medical College
Pokhara
Nepal
Tel: +977- 9843124987
E-mail: janakichaudhary056@ gmail.com

Received Date: April 23, 2021; Accepted Date: May 07, 2021; Published Date: May 14, 2021

Citation: Janaki M, Bindu T, Deepti CK, Sharmila P (2021) Utilization of Social Media and E-Professionalism in Nursing Students of Selected Nursing Colleges in Pokhara. J Health Commun Vol. 6: No.3:6.

Visit for more related articles at Journal of Health Care Communications

Abstract

Background: E-Professionalism is the behaviour and communications which encompasses traditional characteristics of professionalism in an online setting resulted from increased use of Social Media. Social media(SM) is a form of electronic communication through which users create online communities to share information, ideas, personal messages, and other content. The present study aims to assess the utilization of social media and e-professionalism in nursing students and examine the association between utilization of social media and selected socio-demographic variables.

Methodology: A quantitative descriptive cross-sectional study design was used. The study was carried out among all the nursing students of Gandaki medical college, College of nursing sciences. Hence census method was adopted and the data were collected using a semi-structured self administered questionnaire from 25^th October 2020 to 10^th November 2020. Descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation) was used for quantitative data analysis and inferential statistics (Chi-square) were used to find out the association between utilization of social media and selected sociodemographic characteristics of the respondents.

Findings: The study concluded that almost all of the students use the social media and 97.2% of them had good utilization of social media. More than half (69.4)% agreed that usage of social media for research has helped improve their grades, 44.4% agreed that social media have impacted GPA negatively, and 35.2% had neutral idea on improving communication skills. Likewise, 66.7% agreed that social media use had an adverse effect on their concentration. However 73.1% had poor knowledge on e-professionalism. No significant association was seen between knowledge level and selected demographical variables.

Conclusion: Based on the findings of the study almost all of the students used social media. Social media was excessively utilized to get information regarding current social events. Knowledge on e-professionalism was however relatively poor even though the utilization of social media was high. Hence an appropriate guideline on e-professionalism should be implemented.

Keywords

Social media; E-professionalism; Nurses; Ventures; Learning

Introduction

Social Media (SM) is a type of electronic correspondence through which clients make online networks to share data, thoughts, individual messages, and other content [1]. It has illuminated the local area world by giving abundant applications and notable advantages. These advantages have been generally examined and include staying in contact with associates, family accomplices through electronic email post, discovering data about food, merchandise, and merchandize administrations.

Utilization of web-based media helps in moving the cash, looking for occupations, getting the new and refreshing information on clinical wellbeing data, downloading of sporting delicate music, visiting conversation discussions, drawing in with diversion games and helping with instructive and scholastic needs [2].

The utilized of web-based media has a negative effect because of absence of mindfulness about how to utilized web-based media effectively [3]. There are a few benefits for the understudies as they can frame online networks via web-based media to cooperate for a venture, orchestrate bunch conversation for better agreement and collaboration exceptional the current scholarly data for those understudies who have missed their lecturer [4].

E-professionalism is the conduct and correspondences which envelop customary qualities of polished skill in a web based setting came about because of expanded utilization of social media [5]. It revolves' around how the person's online conduct and disposition are or are not professional. Maintaining e-demonstrable skill is fundamental for the nursing calling, to maintain the expert picture of register medical attendant and nursing understudies just as to keep up understanding protection and confidentiality [6].

There are 7.7 billion individuals on the planet; with in any event 3.5 billion utilize web-based media. The web-based media stages are utilized by one-in-three individuals on the planet, and more than 66% of all are web clients. Face book, the biggest web- based media stage on the planet, has 2.4 billion users [7]. Nepal has almost 9.3 million Face book clients. Amusement and video sharing are famous utilization of web-based media. There are more than 6.4 million enlisted clients on YouTube [8].

Understudies want inventive roads for self-articulation and data sharing all through the learning process [9]. More than 80% of nursing understudies see innovation as a piece of their regular life [10]. The expanded pervasiveness being used being used of web-based media encourages the requirement for an improved comprehension of its utilization in nursing education [11-13].

Methodology

A descriptive cross-sectional study design was used. The study population included the all students of Bachelor in Nursing Science (BNS) and Bachelor of Science in nursing (B.Sc) studying at Gandaki medical college, College of nursing sciences. Hence, census method was adopted. However out of 134 students only 108 students completed the questionnaire. The non-response rate was 19.4%.

A Semi-structured self administered questionnaire was used for data collection. The questionnaire was divided into 4 parts. The first part of the questionnaire consisted of questions related to socio-demographic characteristics like age, ethnicity, occupation, religion, educational status, economic status, and marital status of the respondents. The second part of the questionnaire was used to assess the utilization of social media. This part of the questionnaire was adopted from social networking usage questionnaire: development and validation in an Indian higher education context. It is a 5-point likert format where each statement is rated on five sequential points, (always=5, often=4, sometimes=3, rarely=2 and never=1) [14].

Third part of the questionnaire is related to the effects of social media developed via extensive literature review. It is a 5-point likert format where each statement is rated on five sequential points, (always=5, often=4, sometimes=3, rarely=2 and never=1).

Part four of the questionnaire consists of questions related to knowledge on e-professionalism.

Data was collected from the entire respondent at same time on same date in college premises to prevent contamination. Confidentiality was maintained by not disclosing information to anyone except for research purpose only. Anonymity was maintained by using the code numbers for the questionnaire [15].

The obtained data was edited and coded. Data were entered into the computer using the software Epi-data version 3.1 and transferred into Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS-16 version) for further analysis. Data were analyzed and interpreted according to the objectives of the study and research questions. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data. Descriptive statistics (mean, frequency, percentage, and standard deviation) were used to describe the socio-demographic characteristics. Inferential statistics (Chi-square) were used to find out the association between utilization of social media and selected socio-demographic characteristics of the respondents [16,17].

Ethical Considerations

The study was approved by ethical committee of Gandaki Medical College (GMC-IRC) on 10^th October, 2020.

Results

Table 1 shows that more than half (63.9%) of the respondents belonged to age group less than 22 years, mean age and standard deviation is 22.52 (3.03). More than 2/3rd of them (68.5%) were of upper caste group and Almost all (91.7%) of them followed Hinduism. Majority (85.2%) of respondents are single. Similarly, more than half (63%) of them had upper medium family income. 57.4% of respondents are from Bsc Nursing and 38% of them were from third year.

Characteristics		Number	Percent
Age	Less than 22	69	63.9
Age	22 and above	39	36.1
Ethnicity	Dalit	5	4.6
	Disadvantaged Janajati	4	3.7
	Disadvantaged non Dalit Terai caste group	1	0.9
	Relatively advantaged Janajati	24	22.2
	Upper caste group	74	68.5
Religion	Hindu	99	91.7
	Buddhist	6	5.6
	Muslim	1	0.9
	Christian	1	0.9
	Others	1	0.9
Marital Status	Married	15	13.9
	Unmarried	92	85.2
	Divorced	1	0.9
Monthly family income	Low income	2	1.9
	Low medium income	27	25
	Upper medium income	68	63
	High income	11	10.2
Educational status	BSC	62	57.4
Educational status	BNS	46	42.6
Year of study	First	18	16.7
	Second	37	34.3
	Third	41	38
	Fourth	12	11.1

n=108

Table 1: Socio demographic characteristics of the respondents.

Table 2 shows that almost all of them use the social media. Nearly half of them use face book as form of media. More than half of the respondent uses the social media daily.

Characteristics	Number	Percent
Use of social media
Yes	107	99.1
No	1	0.9
Form of social media
Face book	53	49.1
Whats App	2	1.9
Instagram	43	39.8
Others	10	9.3
Hours spent on social media
Have an account but do not use it	1	0.9
Use it rarely	7	6.5
Use it daily	68	63
Use it more than 5 times a day	20	18.5
Use it less than 5 times a week	9	8.3
Use it less than 5 times a month	2	1.9

Table 2: Use of social media.

Table 3 shows the item analysis of utilization of social media. Social media was excessively utilized to get information regarding current social events, for online academic group discussion, to keep in touch with my relatives and reading news.

S. No	Statements	Never n(%)	Seldom n(%)	Sometimes n(%)	Often n(%)	Always n(%)
1.	I use social networking sites to become more sociable.	5 4.6	17 15.7	43 39.8	28 25.9	15 13.9
2.	I use social networking sites to keep in touch with my relatives.	0 0	8 7.4	23 21.3	43 39.8	34 31.5
3.	I use social networking sites to seek help from my teachers.	4 3.7	14 13	40 37.0	35 32.4	15 13.9
4.	I use social networking sites for getting jobs related information	14 13	24 22.2	36 33.3	17 15.7	17 15.7
5.	I use social networking sites to share new ideas	2 1.9	12 11.1	33 30.6	39 36.1	22 20.4
6.	I use social networking sites to create my social identity.	11 10.2	21 19.4	39 36.1	27 25.0	10 9.3
7.	I prefer using social networking sites to attending social gathering.	9 8.3	26 24.1	46 42.6	19 17.6	8 7.4
8.	I use social networking sites to get information regarding current social events	4 3.7	3 2.8	11 10.2	36 33.3	54 50
9.	I use social networking sites for online academic group discussion	1 0.9	7 6.5	15 13.9	40 37.0	45 41.7
10.	I use social networking sites for reading news.	0 0	8 7.4	25 23.1	41 38.0	34 31.5
11.	I use social networking sites for sharing pictures.	5 4.6	26 24.8	45 41.7	22 20.4	19 0.9
12.	I use social networking sites to do research work.	5 4.6	12 11.1	30 27.8	33 30.6	28 25.9
13.	I use social networking sites to learn about my curricular aspect.	6 5.6	8 7.4	32 29.6	44 40.7	18 16.7
14.	I communicate with my friends via social networking sites for preparation of exam	0 0	45 41.7	29 26.9	8 7.4	26 24.1
15.	I use social networking sites to get relief from academic stress.	4 3.7	7 6.5	33 30.6	33 30.6	31 28.7
16.	I use social networking sites for watching movies.	2 1.9	16 14.8	35 32.4	27 25	28 25.9
17.	I use social networking sites for collaborative learning	1 0.9	7 6.5	36 33.3	47 43.5	17 15.7
18.	I use social networking sites to solve my academic problem.	2 1.9	6 5.6	33 30.6	44 40.7	23 21.3
19.	I use social networking sites to look at funny sharing.	5 4.6	11 10.2	35 32.4	34 31.5	23 21.3

Table 3: Utilization of social media.

Table 4 shows the item analysis of effects of use of social media. 69.4% agreed that usage of social media for research has helped improve my grades, 44.4% agreed that social media have impacted GPA negatively, and 35.2% had neutral idea on improving communication skills by social media. Likewise, 66.7% agreed that once I interrupt my study time with social media, I lost concentration (Tables 5-8).

Characteristics	Frequency	Percent
Poor utilization	3	2.8
Good utilization	105	97.2

Table 4: Level of utilization of social media.

S. No	Statements	Strongly agree n(%)	Agree n(%)	Neutral n(%)	Disagree n(%)	Strongly disagree n(%)
1.	Addiction to online social networks is a problematic issue that affects my academic life.	8 7.4	46 42.6	32 29.6	16 14.8	6 5.6
2.	The time I spend online on social networks takes away from my time studying	15 13.9	51 47.2	22 20.4	18 16.7	2 1.9
3.	The hours I spend online on social media are more than the hours I spend reading	12 11.1	30 27.8	33 30.6	30 27.8	3 2.8
4.	My unlimited access to face book through my cell phone has affected my academic performance negatively.	6 5.6	20 28.5	29 26.9	45 41.7	8 7.4
5.	The usage of social media for research has helped improve my grades	6 5.6	75 69.4	21 19.4	6 5.6	0 0
6.	Social media has negatively impacted my writing skills.	0 0	11 10.2	19 17.6	68 63	10 9.3
7.	Engaging in academic forums on social media confuses me	0 0	19 17.6	54 50	33 30.6	2 1.9
8.	Social media have impacted my GPA negatively	8 7.4	48 44.4	34 31.5	16 14.8	2 1.9
9.	I will not perform well in my academics even if I stop using social media	14 13	50 46.3	30 37.8	14 13	0 0
10.	I use social media for making new friends and socializing more than I use it for academic purposes	14 13	50 46.3	30 27.8	14 13	0 0
11.	Social media has improved my communication skills.	2 1.9	25 23.1	38 35.2	37 34.3	6 5.6
12.	Once I interrupt my study time with social media, I lose concentration	3 2.8	72 66.7	26 24.1	6 5.6	1 0.9

Table 5: Effects of social media use.

Characteristics	Number	Percent
Poor effect	108	100
Good effect	0	0

Table 6: Level of effect.

S. No	Statement	Yes	No
1	Nurses can post /share confidential information of the patients in social media	12 11.1%	96 88.9%
2	Nurses can use social media to vent or discuss work-related events or to comment on similar postings by others	80 74.1%	28 25.9%
3	Nurses can post negative comments about their colleagues, supervisors and other health care professionals In social media	4 3.7%	104 96.3%
4	Nurses can become a patient’s electronic “friend” or communicate with them through social media sites	40 37%	68 63%
5	Nurses can offer health-related advice in response to comments or questions posted on social media sites	102 94.4%	6 5.6%
6	Nurses can post content outside their area of expertise in social media	106 98.1%	2 1.9%
7	Nurses can post content on behalf of an employer unless they are authorized to do so and are following all applicable employer requirements	44 40.7%	64 59.3%
8	Nurses should present themselves in professional manner in photos, videos and postings	39 36.1%	69 63.9%
9	Nurses should keep social media sites used for professional purposes separate from personal ones	66 61.1%	42 38.9%
10	Nurses should limit the use of hashtags, which increases audience reach and use a difficult password, change it often, and log out when not using the site.	74 68.5%	34 31.5%

Table 7: Knowledge on e-professionalism.

Characteristics	Number	Percent
Poor knowledge	79	73.1
Good knowledge	29	26.9

Table 8: Knowledge level on e-professionalism.

Characteristics		Knowledge level		χ2	p-value
Characteristics		Poor n (%)	Good n (%)	χ2	p-value
Age in years	<20 years	75.4	24.6	0.477	0.490
Age in years	≥ 20 years	69.2	30.8	0.477	0.490
Marital status	Single	72.8	27.2	0.344	0.558
Marital status	Married	80	20	0.344	0.558
Educational status	Bsc Nursing	72.6	27.4	0.024	0.877
Educational status	Bachelor in Nursing	73.9	26.1	0.024	0.877

Table 9: Association knowledge level and selected socio demographic characteristics of the respondents.

Table 9 depicts the association between level of knowledge and demographic variables. No significant association was seen between knowledge level and selected demographical variables (Table 9).

Discussion

In this study almost all of undergraduate nursing students are using the social media. More than half of the respondents are using the social media daily. Nearly half of them are using face book as form of media. Most all of them had good utilization of social media. Social media was excessively utilized by nursing students to get information regarding current social events, for online academic group discussion, to keep in touch with my relatives and reading news.

Similarly study done by Westrick, et al. found that top three social media types used by students for formal and informal learning were YouTube, text messaging, and Face book [18]. Study done by Chu found that majority of undergraduate nursing students is using social media primarily for personal about three fourth for academic, and one fourth for professional purpose. Likewise study done by Ashton, et al. in Finland found that students mostly used e-learning environment in studies. Web video and online community services were the most used applications whereas least used application was online games, in studies [19]. Study done by Hussain reported that more than half of students agreed that social media has positively affected their studies. Likewise most of the nursing students in our study reported disturbance in their study.

Conclusion

Present study found that about one third participants agreed that usage of social media for research has helped improve grades; almost half agreed that social media have impacted GPA negatively, and about one third had neutral idea on improving communication skills by social media. Likewise, one third participants agreed that once I interrupt my study time with social media, I lose concentration. Cent percent have poor effect of social media use.

Limitations of the study

The study was conducted in a single college and might not reflect the characteristics of nursing students in general. This might limit the generalizability of the findings of the study. Also as this study is a cross sectional study, chances of recall bias may be high.