Student-related factors affecting academic engagement: A qualitative study exploring the experiences of Iranian undergraduate nursing students

Abstract

Background and aimAcademic engagement is an important indicator of quality of higher education. This study aimed to explain the experiences of undergraduate nursing students in terms of student-related factors affecting academic engagement.MethodsThis qualitative study was conducted in 2017 at Mashhad University of Medical Sciences in Iran. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews and focus groups with 7 and 16 undergraduate nursing students at Mashhad School of Nursing and Midwifery; respectively. Undergraduate nursing students of both genders who enrolled in different academic semesters with various academic achievements were selected. Data were analyzed using conventional content analysis approach proposed by Graneheim and Lundman, with the support of MAXQDA software.ResultsAfter analyzing the data, 374 initial codes were extracted, which ultimately conceptualized within six main categories including: “learning motivation”, “interest in learning”, “student participation in extracurricular scientific programs”, “self-directedness”, “mental concentration”, and “demonstration of emotions”.ConclusionThe findings of this study indicated that student-related factors such as individual motivation and interest, mental concentration, participation in extracurricular activities, and self-directedness in learning, as well as students’ sense of satisfaction with learning could play important roles in the creation of academic engagement in undergraduate nursing students that need to be of interest to nursing educators and planners.

Strategies for sustaining and enhancing nursing students’ engagement in academic and clinical settings: a narrative review

“…Therefore, because more than half of nursing education takes place in clinical settings, the findings of these studies do not support the role of these strategies in increasing the academic engagement of nursing students in clinical education. In contrast, previous studies have shown that nursing students have greater motivation, both internally and externally, to learn clinical activities; therefore, they are more engaged in these activities [44,58].…”

Exploring Learning Strategies of Nursing Students at Hue University of Medicine. and Pharmacy, Vietnam

“…Participants' experiences demonstrated that interest in learning was one factor that increased academic engagement, increased appeal towards subjects or educational content. Ghasemi et al (2018) study, showed that interest in, and intellectual and mental concentration on educational subjects, increased learning efforts, and ultimately contributed to greater and deeper learning. According to Joshi et al (2017), participants' suggestions to achieve high learning performance referred to consideration of learning styles and strategies like daily revision of topics, being regular and attentive during ward postings.…”

The challenges of Clinical Engagement of Nursing Students in Iran

“…[4] For this, using best theory-based strategies to increase students' engagement has always been the main concern of Iranian nursing educators. [5] The possible reason could be the concept of student's engagement is ambiguous in the field of academic and clinical nursing education in Iran and limited research has been done on its definition, dimensions, and optimal strategies. [5] Therefore, many aspects need to be clear through a well-designed theory-based educational research, either qualitative or quantitative.…”

“…[5] The possible reason could be the concept of student's engagement is ambiguous in the field of academic and clinical nursing education in Iran and limited research has been done on its definition, dimensions, and optimal strategies. [5] Therefore, many aspects need to be clear through a well-designed theory-based educational research, either qualitative or quantitative. [5] First, this concept should be theoretically analyzed and the conceptual framework for Iranian nursing students' clinical engagement needs to be developed.…”

“…[5] Therefore, many aspects need to be clear through a well-designed theory-based educational research, either qualitative or quantitative. [5] First, this concept should be theoretically analyzed and the conceptual framework for Iranian nursing students' clinical engagement needs to be developed. Second, the indicators of the academic and clinical engagement must be defined.…”