Functional ability to use social media in the group of nursing students. A nationwide cross-sectional study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21164/pomjlifesci.1052Keywords:
cross-sectional study, social media, social media literacy, standardized scaleAbstract
Introduction: Assessing practical social media skills of nursing students has real-world significance. It can shape educational policies, curriculum development, and even the formulation of ethical guidelines for future healthcare professionals.
This study aims to contribute to the existing literature by providing empirical data on the practical social media skills of Polish nursing students and their ability to integrate social media into their everyday, educational and professional lives.
Materials and methods: All undergraduate (3-year bachelor’s program) Polish nursing students were eligible for the study. Out of 679 study participants, first-year students (n = 397, 58.73%) and women (n = 589, 87.13%) were the largest groups. The mean age of the study participants was 21.02 years (SD = 4.04). The Social Media Use Integration Scale was used, a p-value of <0.05 was considered.
Results: The research reveals a moderate level of social media integration in the student population. Interestingly, the study identifies greater variability in the emotional and social aspects of media use compared to its integration into daily routines.
Conclusions: In the broader context of the increasing importance of social media in educational settings, the study emphasizes the significance of assessment tools such as SMUIS. Thus, the research augments academic knowledge and provides practical insights for educational strategists and policymakers in the field of nursing education.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Joanna Gotlib-Małkowska, Ilona Cieślak, Mariusz Panczyk, Dominik Wawrzuta, Mariusz Jaworski
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