An Integrative Review of Smartphone Utilization for Nursing Education among Nursing College Students in South Korea / 한국간호교육학회지

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to (a) synthesize nursing education literature using a smartphone for Korean nursing college students based on Whittemore and Knafl's integrative five-step review method and to (b) evaluate the quality appraisal of each article using Gough's weight of evidence. METHODS: Articles published in Korea were identified through electronic search engines and scholarly websites using a combination of three search terms, including nursing student, smartphone, and education. Scientific, peer-reviewed articles in nursing education for Korean college nursing students, written in Korean or in English, and published between January 2000 and May 2018 were included in this review. Thirteen papers met the inclusion criteria and had above average ratings in quality appraisals. RESULTS: Three characteristics related to nursing education using a smartphone were derived: (a) as a familiar media, motivating learning and enabling self-directed learning, (b) for the purpose of education or evaluation utilizing the educational movie of application, and (c) the iterative exercise of smartphone usage reinforces student learning. CONCLUSION: Smartphone use is an effective tool for improving nursing knowledge and skills for nursing college students in nursing education. Future research is needed to standardize smartphone applications across schools for nursing education.