Preference, Challenges, and Satisfaction with Using E-Books: Is There a Gender Difference among Omani Nursing Students?

With the growing popularity of technology among millennial nursing students and the shift in publishers' focus toward electronic textbooks (ebooks), there is a need to understand students' perceptions, preferences, and satisfaction related to e-books in nursing education, particularly in Oman, a country in the Gulf region with a lack of studies on this subject. This study examined the perceived usefulness, challenges, and satisfaction with e-books compared to printed textbooks, among Omani nursing students. A descriptive cross-sectional design was employed, and data were collected from a convenience sample of 77 students who used e-books in a community health nursing course. A valid and reliable survey was administered during the fall 2020 semester. The findings revealed that despite identifying more challenges associated with printed textbooks, the majority of students (74%) preferred them to e-books. Additionally, 71.4% of students reported a low level of satisfaction with e-books. Female students demonstrated a higher preference for printed textbooks and lower satisfaction with e-books compared to male participants. These results highlight the need to address students' concerns and preferences when implementing e-books in nursing education. This study contributes to the understanding of nursing students' preferences and satisfaction with e-books, as well as the gender differences observed in this context. Further research is needed to investigate interventions to improve the adoption and effectiveness of e-books in nursing education.