E-professionalism and social media use amongst nurses and midwives: A cross-sectional study

Nurses' media competency: A concept analysis

OBJECTIVES

To analyze and define the concept of nurses' media competency.

DESIGN

Concept analysis.

DATA SOURCES

We conducted a literature search in PubMed, CINAHL, PsycInfo, and RISS International, as well as a hand-search, for relevant articles published between January 1990 and April 2023. A total of 57 articles related to nurses' media competency, published in English or Korean, were included in this study.

REVIEW METHODS

We used Walker and Avant's method of concept analysis to identify the defining attributes, antecedents, and consequences of the concept.

RESULTS

The seven defining attributes of nurses' media competency were networking with members of the media, selecting the appropriate media platform, considering that the target audience is the public, creating one's own media products, delivering intended messages through the media, monitoring and responding to the media, and maintaining professional dignity. Antecedents of the concept included cultivation of desirable nursing professionalism, critical evaluation of policies and issues, recognition of media influence, establishment of education and guidelines for media use, and having facilities and availability of technologies for media use. Consequences of the concept were improved influence of individual nurses, enhanced public awareness of the nursing profession, stronger networks and collaboration among professionals, and contributions to the promotion of public health.

CONCLUSIONS

This concept analysis presents a theoretical definition of nurses' media competency that can provide guidance on how to educate nurses to develop media competency and how to measure nurses' media competency.

UK midwives' perceptions and experiences of using Facebook to provide perinatal support: Results of an exploratory online survey

Seeking support from Facebook groups during pregnancy is now widespread and social media has been widely used by the United Kingdom National Health Service (NHS) maternity services to communicate with service users during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite this, little is currently known about midwives' attitudes towards, and experiences of social media in practice. Research is needed to understand barriers and solutions to meeting mothers' expectations of online support and to improve services. This study explored midwife involvement in Facebook groups, exploring experiences and perceptions of its use to communicate with and support mothers. An online survey consisting of open and closed questions was completed by 719 midwives and student during August- September 2020. Quantitative questionnaire data was analysed descriptively using SPSS v26. Qualitative data gathered from free text responses was analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Few participants were involved in providing Facebook support, and most of these were unpaid. There was a consensus on a range of benefits for mothers, but widespread concern that engaging with mothers online was a personal and professional risk, underpinned by a lack of support. Experience of being involved in midwife moderation increased belief in its benefits and reduced fear of engaging online, despite a lack of renumeration and resources. Midwives and students felt they were discouraged from offering Facebook support and sought further training, guidance and support. Although limited, experiences of providing Facebook group support are positive. Perceptions of risk and a lack of support are significant barriers to midwives' involvement in using Facebook groups to support mothers. Midwives seek support and training to safely and effectively engage with mothers using Facebook. Engaging with mothers via social media is embedded in UK national policy and NHS digital strategy, and progress is needed to fulfil these, to improve services and meet mothers' expectations. Midwives' experiences suggest extending opportunities to provide Facebook support would benefit midwives, services and families. Consultation to revise local policy to support midwives and students in line with strategic goals is recommended.

Perceived Use Behavior of Social Networking Sites Among the Healthcare Students in India

Introduction

The use of social networking sites (SNSs) is growing among higher education students, including healthcare students. Nonetheless, limited research has examined the perceived use behavior among healthcare students in developing countries such as India.

Objective

This study attempts to assess the use behavior of SNSs by undergraduate students in the fields of nursing and pharmacy in India through the lens of Connectivism and New Social Learning theories.

Method

The study used a Google form to collect data through an online questionnaire. A sample of 483 participants included 258 Bachelor of Science in Nursing students, 161 General Nursing and Midwifery students, and 64 Bachelor of Pharmacy students from various Indian nursing and pharmacy schools.

Results

The majority of the respondents prefer to use SNSs for several purposes such as watching academic videos on YouTube, sharing their ideas, thoughts, and current development in their respective fields through WhatsApp, getting job-related information from different Facebook pages, etc. A substantial number of nursing students believed that these SNSs help them build relationships with professionals across the country. At the same time, many students also indicated that extensive use of SNSs might cause sleep difficulties, data privacy concerns, and a lack of focus while studying.

Conclusion

To have an impact on how SNSs are used in healthcare education, more attention should be paid to build connectivism between educators and their students on social learning environment, which the findings of this study's suggestions could be put into practice.

Experiences of first year undergraduate nursing students using Instagram in their clinical practicum during COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative study

BACKGROUND

Social media provides us with easy access to information. For students, it is an additional learning resource used in different types of theoretical and practical teaching methodologies.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this paper was to describe the perspective of undergraduate nursing students on the use of Instagram during their clinical practicums in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

DESIGN

A qualitative descriptive and exploratory study based on an interpretative framework.

SETTINGS AND PARTICIPANTS

First-year undergraduate nursing students at the Universidad Europea de Madrid were included.

METHODS

In-depth interviews and researchers' field notes were used to collect the data. Purposive sampling and inductive thematic analysis were applied. During the interviews, themes such as accompaniment during practicums or training opportunities were identified.

RESULTS

The use of Instagram helped students to feel closer to professors, identifying it as an opportunity to remedy the possible lack of connection between theory and practice. Moreover, Instagram helped them build an image of nursing in clinical practicum environments. By using Instagram, undergraduate nursing students were able to better integrate and apply the knowledge acquired at university during their clinical practicums in hospitals.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results can be applied to future studies on the use of social media platforms as teaching tools in clinical practicum settings and to observe the evolution of the image and role of nursing and its relationship with social media.

Scandinavian Nurses’ Use of Social Media during the COVID-19 Pandemic—A Berger and Luckman Inspired Analysis of a Qualitative Interview Study

There is a knowledge gap about nurses’ use of social media in relation to and during the COVID-19 pandemic, which demands the upholding of a physical distance to other people, including patients and their relatives. The study aims to explore how nurses in the Scandinavian countries used social media for professional purposes in relation to the first 15 months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Qualitative, semi-structured interviews with 30 nurses in three Scandinavian countries (Denmark, Norway, and Sweden) were conducted. Thematic analyses were made, methodically inspired by Braun and Clarke, and theoretically inspired by Berger and Luckmann’s theory about the construction of social reality. The Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research (SRQR) checklist was used. The results showed that social media was a socialisation tool for establishing new routines in clinical practice. Virtual meeting places supported collective understandings of a specific COVID-19 ‘reality’ and ‘knowledge’ amongst nurses, with the pandemic bringing to the fore the issue of e-professionalism among nurses relating to their clinical practice. However, social media and virtual education were not commonly used in patient contacts. Further, nurses attempted a re-socialisation of the public to proper COVID-19 behaviour through social media. Moreover, blurred boundaries between acting as a private individual and a professional nurse were identified, where ethics of the nursing profession extended to nurses’ private lives.