title: Development of a nursing education program for improving Chinese undergraduates' self-directed learning: A mixed-method study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This paper demonstrates the establishment of an extra-curricular education program in Chinese context and evaluates its effectiveness on undergraduate nursing students' self-directed learning.
  
  
  METHODS
  Zimmerman's self-directed learning model was used as the theoretical framework for the development of an education program. Mixed-method was applied in this research study. 165 undergraduate students from a nursing college were divided into experimental group (n=32) and control group (n=133). Pre- and post-tests were implemented to evaluate the effectiveness of this education program using the self-directed learning scale of nursing undergraduates. Qualitative interview was undertaken within participants from the experimental group to obtain their insights into the influence of this program.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both quantitative and qualitative analyses showed that the program contributed to nursing students' self-directed learning ability. In the experimental group, the post-test score showed an increase compared with pretest score (p<0.05). The score of experimental group was higher than control group (p<0.05) after 18months training, while there was no difference between them before this program. Qualitative results from 9 students' experience were formulated as three main thematic categories: influence on awareness, influence on learning activities and influence on learning environment. It can be found in the qualitative analysis that learners benefited from this program.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The education program contributes to the improvement of nursing undergraduates' self-directed learning. Various pedagogic methods could be applied for self-directed learning.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, PR China. Electronic address: taoying52@163.com.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tao
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, PR China. Electronic address: llptian@163.com.
authors.forename: Liping
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of South Australia 5000, Australia. Electronic address: andie.xu@unisa.edu.au.
authors.forename: Qunyan
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, PR China. Electronic address: alj1018@aliyun.com.
authors.forename: Anli
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jiang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002681:China; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate / Q000379:methods*; D004521:Educational Measurement; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017145:Models, Educational; D018794:Problem-Based Learning; D036301:Qualitative Research; D020377:Self Efficacy; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology
keywords: Extra-curricular education program; Nursing undergraduates; Self-directed learning; Self-directed learning ability