Institutional Factors Influencing Self-Directed Learning Readiness among Nursing Students in Medical Training Colleges in Siaya County, Kenya

Context: Self-directed learning (SDL) is a prominent pedagogical approach in nursing education. The success of self-directed learning hinges upon an individual's readiness, which is influenced by the complexity of factors. Self-directed learning readiness represents an individual's capacity and willingness to take charge of their learning journey. Evaluating factors influencing self-directed learning readiness is pivotal for educational planning, aiding in selecting appropriate instructional methods tailored to students' academic strengths and weaknesses.

Aim: The study aimed to investigate institutional factors influencing self-directed learning readiness among nursing students in Medical Training Colleges in Siaya County

Methods: A cross-sectional analytical study design was adopted. The study was conducted among 404 nursing students in the Bondo and Siaya campuses of Kenya Medical Training College. Data on socio-demographics and institutional factors were collected using a self-administered questionnaire, and individuals' readiness was measured using Fisher's self-directed learning readiness scale.

Results: The majority of the students were female (67.1% n=271) compared to males (32.9% n=133), and overall, the self-directed learning readiness level among both of them was high among 73.5% of the studied students, with a mean score of 157.2. Notably, institutional factors that significantly influenced self-directed learning readiness were access to the institution's internet connectivity (OR=0.635; 95% CI=0.407-0.991; p=0.046) and self-directed learning mentorship (OR=0.402; 95% CI=0.213-0.76; p=0.005).

Conclusion: Access to internet connectivity and self-directed learning mentorship are crucial institutional factors significantly influencing self-directed learning readiness among nursing students. This study recommends strengthening mentorship strategies for self-directed learning and providing reliable internet connectivity to students at all times to enhance their readiness to learn.

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