Predicting nursing students' intention to attend face-to-face classes on school reopening: A theory of planned behavior application.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in school closures and the reopening of schools is considered to be a possible approach to start reversing learning deficits. However, the literature is scarce on the determinants of intention to attend face-to-face classes among nursing students.

Method: This cross-sectional study examined students' intention to attend limited face-to-face classes on school reopening, and its association among the core constructs of the Theory of Planned Behavior. Undergraduate nursing students of one university in the Philippines (n = 322) answered an online questionnaire. Predictor variables were determined by multiple linear regression analysis.

Results: Results demonstrated that nursing students had a high intention (4.47 of 5) to attend limited face-to-face classes. First- and second-year students had significantly higher intention to attend limited face-to-face classes than third- and fourth-year nursing students. Multiple regression analysis suggested that attitude (β = .127, p = .001), subjective norm (β = .400, p = .000), and perceived behavioral control (β = .326, p = .000) positively predicted students' intention to attend face-to-face classes.

Conclusion: As many schools prepare for the gradual reopening of campuses, the different beliefs of students may be considered by nursing schools to better understand students' intention for face-to-face instruction.