title: Exploring the underlying factors influencing e-learning adoption in nurse education.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report a study undertaken to explore the underlying factors influencing e-learning adoption in nurse education.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Despite e-learning's high profile it has not been readily integrated into teaching practice in nurse education. Previous research has identified generic, cross-disciplinary factors but has left out 'soft' factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study adopted an exploratory descriptive design.
  
  
  METHODS
  Q-methodology was used to explore e-learning adoption in a Division of Nursing located in an institution of Higher Education in the UK. Between September-December 2009, 38 participants were recruited to participate in Q-sorts and post-sort interviews. The Q-sort data were factor analysed and the interviews were coded to their respective factors to develop in-depth narratives.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four factors were identified: 'E-learning advocates' saw e-learning's potential to improve nurse education and prepare future nurses for their evolving role; the 'Humanists' had avoided e-learning because they valued human interaction; the 'Sceptics' doubted that technology could improve learning outcomes; and the 'Pragmatics,' only used e-learning as a tool to post lecture notes online to supplement what they covered in class.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings point to the variety of responses existing among nurse academics faced with integrating e-learning into their teaching. Moving beyond the binary labels commonly attributed to those considered either 'early adopters' or 'laggards,' the findings contribute to the literature by revealing a wider breadth of views and responses towards technology. Acknowledging these views can inform future e-learning strategies and lead to improvement in e-learning use in nurse education.
authors.affiliation: Département des Sciences Infirmières et Paramédicales, EHESP, Paris, France. odessa.petitditdariel@ehesp.fr
authors.forename: Odessa
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Petit dit Dariel
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wharrad
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Windle
mesh_terms: D020375:Education, Distance / Q000379:methods*; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D011779:Q-Sort; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D006113:United Kingdom