Research brief: a class-based SoTL investigation of senior nursing student perceptions, beliefs, and behaviours regarding health misinformation and science skepticism

Abstract

Rising misinformation and decreasing trust in science are currently a threat to public health and well-being. Nurses, and other health care professionals, have an obligation both to be able to inform themselves, evaluate information, and to be able to engage with patients, families and communities to counter this. To prepare nursing students to do this, we (a nursing instructor and a librarian) designed and introduced a three-hour class on the topic. For this scholarship of teaching and learning study we utilized a pre- and post-survey to assess students’ perceptions, beliefs, and behaviours related to their personal efficacy with electronic health literacy, their attitudes and beliefs about science, and their information/misinformation sharing practices. Statistical results of the study found minimal statistical difference pre- and post-class, but the individual item analysis and overall results provided a rich content for reflection on student learning and teaching.