Internet use, as technological access, by student nurses at the South African military health service nursing college campuses: A technology acceptance model (TAM) perspective

Background: The internet, when accessed through technology by military undergraduate student nurses, can be used to acquire information to support evidence-based practice in various settings, such as in military hospitals, sickbays, during military exercises, on deployments, and can contribute to lifelong learning. Evidence-based practice has become an integral component of nursing education in a military context and, consequently, in the provision of quality patient care. Student nurses are therefore required to systematically access and retrieve relevant information to incorporate and deliver patient care based on current, reliable research evidence. Furthermore, it is pertinent for student nurses to use the internet proficiently, given that qualified nurses are required to retrieve information to inform students of comprehensive patient care and to engage in Continuing Professional Development (CPD) activities throughout their military nursing career. Methods: The researcher obtained ethics clearance from the Stellenbosch University Health Research Ethics Committee and received institutional approval from the South African Military Health Service (SAMHS), Defence Intelligence Department, and 1 Military Hospital Research Ethics Committee. A quantitative, non-experimental, cross-sectional descriptive design was used in this study. Questionnaires were administered at the SAMHS Nursing College campuses in Pretoria, Bloemfontein, and Cape Town to students enrolled in the three-year Diploma in Nursing (R.171) and the one-year Higher Certificate in Nursing (R.169). A pilot test was carried out with respondents from the target population (n=15) to inform the main study. While these respondents were included in the main study, the pilot test results were excluded from the final analysis. All current undergraduate student nurses (N=115) were invited to participate in the study, and N=105 (91%) elected to participate. A validated 37-item questionnaire, titled ‘Internet use, as technological access, by students at the South African Military Health Service Nursing College campuses’, was self-completed by respondents and analysed descriptively with the assistance of a biostatistician working at Stellenbosch University. Results: Overall, the respondents used the internet for academic-related study n=101 (96,2%), listening to music n=95 (90,5%), watching videos n=94 (89,5%), communication n=88 (83,8%), shopping n=88 (83,8%), and the latest news and weather reports n=87 (82,9%). Most n=90 (85,7%) respondents considered the internet to be integral to their lives, and n=64 (60,9%) indicated that they accessed it daily. Furthermore, more than half n=63 (60,6%) of the respondents considered a slow internet connection as a constraint on campus. Despite students using the internet for academic purposes, the study revealed that the vast majority n=96 (91,4%) indicated a need for internet orientation as an academic tool. Conclusion: Taken together, the undergraduate student nurses at the SAMHS Nursing College campuses used the internet for academic and non-academic purposes. Moreover, they considered the internet to be vital to their lives. Despite regularly using internet resources, the students identified a need for internet orientation. Therefore, an integrated internet skills programme would support and capacitate students, enhancing their studies and future evidence-based nursing practice in the South African National Defence Force.

Grantor dc:publisher

Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University

Year dc:date.issued

2026

Author dc:creator

• Nagiah, Sharday Melissa

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Damons, A.

Language dc:language.iso

en

Repository record dc:identifier.uri

https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/136662

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/136662