Advancing Equity Through Open Educational Resources in a Public Health Nursing Course: Academic Outcomes and Student...

Research shows that incorporating Open Educational Resources (OER) into nursing programs can enhance student engagement, reduce financial burdens, and promote inclusivity. However, its utility for teaching public health to student nurses has not been studied. This study evaluated the effectiveness and acceptability of OER in an in-person undergraduate public health nursing course.

A retrospective, quantitative analysis was conducted on six course offerings (August 2021-May 2024). Data from two groups-textbook-only (n = 125) and OER-only (n = 247)-were compared using final grades (n = 372) and student evaluations (n = 193). Cost savings were estimated based on bookstore prices ($120 per textbook). Grades were analyzed as categorical variables with z-scores; Chi-square tests examined associations between OER use, costs, and perceptions.

Textbooks for the semester-long public health nursing course cost students collectively $8400 per semester; OER was free. No significant differences in overall grades were observed, except for a higher rate of A- grades in the textbook group (p<0.05). Student satisfaction with cost was higher in the OER group (88% vs. 55%, p<0.0001). Perceptions of material necessity for classroom success were similar between textbook and OER groups (p = 0.434).

Using OER substantially lowers costs without harming academic performance, supporting its use as a cost-effective, equitable strategy in public health nursing education.