BACKGROUND
Service-Learning (SL) is a pedagogical approach that combines community service with cognitive learning for professionals. Its efficacy in promoting community health has gained broad recognition within nursing education. Nevertheless, the application of postgraduate nursing service-learning programs in community-based intelligent health remains underexplored. Thus, additional investigation is necessary to assess the influence of the Community-Based Intelligent Health Promotion System on postgraduate nursing students.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to assess how the service-learning project based on a community-oriented intelligent health promotion system(SLP-COIHPS)influences the scientific awareness and research innovation abilities of nursing postgraduate students. Additionally, the study sought to examine the experiences of both participating students and health-service subjects.
METHODS
We conducted a mixed methods investigation by employing web-based surveys and conducting interviews. The web-based surveys aimed to explore differences in scientific awareness and research innovation capabilities between two distinct groups: a cohort of 23 nursing postgraduate students actively engaged in the SLP-COIHPS and a matched group of 23 postgraduate students serving as control subjects. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a total of fifteen postgraduate students and twelve community residents who received health services, aiming to assess the project's impact on them. The community-based intelligent health promotion system, installed in intelligent health cabins, can be conceptualized as an expert system providing valuable references for student health education. It has the capability to generate comprehensive assessments and personalized health guidance plans. Following training, students were involved in offering health assessments, health education, and related services. Subsequently, after web-based surveys and semi-structured interviews, quantitative data were analyzed utilizing the SPSS software package, employing t-tests; qualitative data underwent analysis using content analysis methods.
RESULTS
The total score for research awareness among nursing postgraduate students participating in this program, along with their scores in research innovation capability, were significantly higher than those of the control group's postgraduate students ( P<.05 ). Based on qualitative results, postgraduate students reported improvement in this program. Analysis of the interviews revealed a total of 12 subcategories across three primary domains: (1) specialized skill, (2) scientific research ability, and (3) comprehensive qualities. Community residents reported high satisfaction and positive experiences. Analysis of the interviews identified two primary categories: (1) satisfaction, and (2) perceived benefits.
CONCLUSIONS
The SLP-COIHPS had a positive impact on the development of students’ scientific awareness and research innovation ability. The findings of the qualitative study also support the further development of a practical program that integrates intelligent health and service-learning theories in the medical education field for nursing postgraduate students.