Evaluation of Student Nurses’ Use of Web Technologies for Research Purpose

This study investigated the use of web technologies by final-year nursing students in Ghana for research and health-related learning. The research employed a descriptive cross-sectional survey design involving 296 students across three nursing training institutions. Data were collected using a structured self-administered questionnaire adapted from previous studies and analyzed using SPSS version 21. The findings revealed that the majority of respondents (90.2%) had regular access to the internet, primarily through smartphones (86.8%). Students predominantly used Web 1.0 (44.9%) and Web 3.0 (38.9%) technologies, with limited engagement with Web 2.0 platforms (22.2%). Frequently searched health topics included diet and nutrition (95.3%), heart disease (92.6%), and sexually transmitted infections (90.5%). Students commonly validated information by comparing different sources (90.2%) and consulting peers or academic mentors. However, 39.5% never verified the information they encountered online. Major challenges included slow internet speed (90.2%), high data costs (88.5%), information overload (73.3%), and inadequate search skills (55.1%). These challenges reflect infrastructural and digital literacy gaps that potentially hinder effective online research practices. The study highlights the urgent need for targeted digital literacy training and infrastructural support. It recommends integrating critical evaluation skills into the nursing curriculum and encouraging the adoption of advanced Web 3.0 and emerging Web 4.0 tools for improved research efficiency. These insights are relevant to educators, policymakers, and digital platform developers aiming to support nursing education in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.