The influence of digital learning on health sciences students' competence development- A qualitative study

Area of Science:

• Health Professions Education
• Digital Learning
• Competence Development

Background:

• Healthcare professionals require high competence, but evidence on digital learning's impact on health science students is limited.
• Understanding the influence of digital learning on student competence is essential for effective training.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore health science students' experiences with competence development.
• To investigate the impact of digital learning on students' competence acquisition.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative descriptive study utilizing semi-structured interviews with 15 health science students.
• Content analysis was employed to analyze interview data collected in Spring 2021.

Main Results:

• Students perceived competence development as encompassing career motivation, understanding professional influences, versatile health science expertise, and adaptability to diverse learning settings.
• Digital learning necessitates active student participation and is integral to successful educational environments, though it can pose challenges to social interaction.
• Digital learning facilitated competence development and enhanced understanding of relevant health science skills, contingent upon sufficient institutional support.

Conclusions:

• Findings offer valuable insights for health science education policy development.
• Recommendations for creating high-quality digital learning procedures can be informed by this research.