The effects of online Team-Based Learning on undergraduate nursing students’ performance, attitudes and accountability during COVID-19 pandemic

Background and aim: The COVID-19 pandemic forced many institutions to move Team-Based Learning (TBL) to an online format. The primary aim of this study is to examine the performance of undergraduate nursing students on team Readiness Assurance Test (tRAT) and individual Readiness Assurance Test (iRAT) during online TBL. The secondary aims are to evaluate the students’ attitudes and their accountability, preferences and satisfaction with online TBL. Methods: The study employed a one-group pretest-posttest quasi-experimental design. The primary outcome was evaluated by comparing the students’ average scores in the tRAT versus the iRAT in each online TBL session. The secondary outcomes were evaluated through a structured questionnaire and the Team-Based Learning Student Assessment Instrument (TBL-SAI). Results: A statistically significant improvement was identified between tRAT and iRAT performances in all online TBL sessions (p<0.001). Students’ satisfaction with team experience showed a statistically significant increase (p=0.003). Participants considered the peer evaluation to be fair (p<0.001), although it didn’t encourage them to study more (p=0.028). Finally, students felt they were able to make the right decisions (p<0.001). The mean scores for accountability (m=30±3.7) and preferences for TBL (m=51.8±6.3) were higher than their neutral values (n=24; n=48). Students’ satisfaction was neutral (m=27.8±5, n=27). Conclusions: In online TBL, teamwork has improved individual performances and has been appreciated by the participants. The online TBL had a positive effect on the accountability of students who preferred it to frontal lectures.