Background: The text-assisted problem-based, methods traditionally used to teach nursing students cannot adequately simulate holistic clinical situations and patient symptoms. Although video-assisted, problem-based learning methods combined with text have shown positive results in terms of improving comprehension and cognitive abilities, some studies have shown these methods to be inferior to text-assisted methods in terms of promoting deep critical thinking in medical students.

Purpose: This study was designed to assess the benefits in nursing education of video-assisted, problem-based learning using online multimedia technologies compared with text-assisted, problem-based learning using traditional face-to-face classes.

Methods: A quasi-experimental, nonequivalent control group, preintervention-and-postintervention design was used. The experimental group (n = 31) received video-assisted, problem-based learning materials with multimedia technologies (video scenarios, Google Docs worksheets, Google slides, Zoom cloud meetings, and e-learning management system) and weekly online lectures (100 minutes) for 4 weeks. The control group (n = 35) received text-assisted, problem-based learning materials with traditional face-to-face classes and weekly lectures (100 minutes) for 4 weeks. The study data were analyzed using chi-square, Fisher's exact, and independent t tests as well as analysis of variance.

Results: At posttest, learning motivation (t = 3.25, p = .002), academic self-efficacy (t = 2.41, p = .019), and self-directed learning (t = 3.08, p = .003) were significantly higher in the experimental group than in the control group.

Conclusions/Implications for Practice: Video-assisted, problem-based learning using multimedia technologies was shown to be effective in increasing learning motivation, academic self-efficacy, and self-directed learning in nursing students. These findings have implications for the development and planning of contactless classes in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Notably, no intergroup differences were found in terms of problem-solving skills. Future studies should include in-depth reviews and assessments of the difficulties faced in producing problem scenarios as well as the methods of instruction.