The effectiveness of web-based and face-to-face continuing education methods on nurses' knowledge about AIDS: a comparative study.
BACKGROUND
Information about web-based education outcomes in comparison with a face-to-face format can help researchers and tutors prepare and deliver future web-based or face-to-face courses more efficiently. The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of web-based and face-to-face continuing education methods in improving nurses' knowledge about AIDS.


METHODS
A quasi-experimental method was used with a pre-test and post-test design. In this study 140 nurses with BSc degrees were chosen through a random sampling method and divided into a web-based and a face-to-face group by random allocation. For the former group the intervention consisted of a web-based course on AIDS; the latter received a 3-hour lecture course on the same subject. At the beginning and end of the course in both groups, the nurses' knowledge was measured by a questionnaire. Pre- and post-test scores were compared within and between the groups.


RESULTS
The results show that there was no significant difference between the groups in either the pre-test (t(138) = -1.7, p = 0.096) nor the post-test (t(138) = -1.4, p = 0.163) scores in the knowledge test. However, there was a significant difference in the pre-test and post-test scores within each group (web-based, t(69) = 26, p < .001; face-to-face, t(69) = 24.3, p < .001).


CONCLUSIONS
The web-based method seems to be as effective as the face-to-face method in the continuing education of nurses. Therefore, the web-based method is recommended, as complementary to the face-to-face method, for designing and delivering some topics of continuing education programs for nurses.
Khatony
Alireza
A
PhD Department, School of Nursing & Midwifery, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. akhatony@gmail.com
Nayery
Nahid Dehghan
ND
Ahmadi
Fazlolaah
F
Haghani
Hamid
H
Vehvilainen-Julkunen
Katri
K
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000451:nursing*; D000328:Adult; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D020375:Education, Distance; D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing / Q000379:methods*; D004521:Educational Measurement / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D007492:Iran; D008297:Male; D015397:Program Evaluation; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires