Nursing students’ self-directed learning abilities and related factors at graduation: A multi-country cross-sectional study

Abstract

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Aim: To describe nursing students’ level of self-directed learning abilities and identify possible factors related to it at graduation in six European countries.Design: A cross-sectional comparative design across the countries.Methods: The study was conducted from February 2018 to September 2019. Nursing students (N= 4,135) from the Czech Republic, Finland, Italy, Portugal, Slovakia and Spain were invited to respond to the research instruments (the Self- Rating Scale of Self- Directed Learning and the Nurse Competence Scale) at graduation. The data were analysed using the chi- square test, Pearson correlation coefficient and the linear model.Results: The nursing students’ (N= 1,746) overall self-directed learning abilities were at high level in all countries. Statistically significant differences occurred between countries. Spanish nursing students reported the highest level of self-directed learn-ing abilities while students from the Czech Republic reported the lowest. Higher level of self- directed learning abilities was related to several factors, particularly with the self- assessed level of competence and country