{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,30]],"date-time":"2026-07-30T12:13:11Z","timestamp":1785413591796,"version":"3.56.0"},"reference-count":30,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"4","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,10]],"date-time":"2026-04-10T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1775779200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Teaching and Learning Innovation Center (TLIC), Chiang Mai University.","award":["2568"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["2568"]}]},{"award":["2568"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["2568"]}],"id":[{"id":"https:\/\/ror.org\/05m2fqn25","id-type":"ROR","asserted-by":"publisher"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Nursing Reports"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background: Nursing education faces challenges in developing critical thinking and digital literacy among Generation Z students, particularly in maternal\u2013newborn care contexts where evidence-based practice is essential. Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of an AI-assisted podcasting intervention on critical thinking and digital literacy among nursing students and explore their experiences. Methods: A convergent mixed-methods design included 48 third-year nursing students who created educational podcasts using AI tools (Sci Space for literature search, Notebook LM for synthesis). Quantitative data were analyzed using paired t-tests; qualitative data from three focus groups (n = 15) underwent thematic analysis. Results: Critical thinking scores increased significantly from 89.71 (SD = 13.43) to 117.29 (SD = 9.94), (t = \u221213.332, p &lt; 0.001). Digital literacy scores improved from 37.98 (SD = 5.84) to 46.94 (SD = 4.11), (t = \u22129.407, p &lt; 0.001). Four themes emerged: transformation from anxiety to empowerment, AI as scaffold, distinct tool utility, and future clinical application. Conclusions: These findings suggest that AI-assisted podcasting has the potential to significantly enhance critical thinking and digital literacy among nursing students; however, results should be interpreted with caution given the pre\u2013post design, single-institution sample, and use of researcher-developed instruments.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/nursrep16040127","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,10]],"date-time":"2026-04-10T09:08:12Z","timestamp":1775812092000},"page":"127","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Promoting Critical Thinking and Digital Literacy in Nursing Students Through AI-Powered Podcasting: A Mixed-Methods Study"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"16","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1338-0789","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Piyanut","family":"Xuto","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Nursing, Chiang Mai University, 110\/406 Intawaroros rd., Suthep, Muang, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-3969-480X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Piyaporn","family":"Prasitwattanaseree","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Nursing, Chiang Mai University, 110\/406 Intawaroros rd., Suthep, Muang, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0184-1576","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Tareewan","family":"Chaiboonruang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Nursing, Chiang Mai University, 110\/406 Intawaroros rd., Suthep, Muang, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4008-5446","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Lawitra","family":"Khiaokham","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Nursing, Chiang Mai University, 110\/406 Intawaroros rd., Suthep, Muang, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0001-5401-1982","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Nittha","family":"Panjaruang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Nursing, Chiang Mai University, 110\/406 Intawaroros rd., Suthep, Muang, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0006-9934-0604","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Pattarada","family":"Chalermliamthong","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Nursing, Chiang Mai University, 110\/406 Intawaroros rd., Suthep, Muang, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Piyawan","family":"Sritawan","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Nursing, Chiang Mai University, 110\/406 Intawaroros rd., Suthep, Muang, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,10]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"105937","DOI":"10.1016\/j.nedt.2023.105937","article-title":"Influence of technical, cognitive and socio-emotional factors on digital literacy in nursing students assessed using structural equation modeling","volume":"130","author":"Erdat","year":"2023","journal-title":"Nurse Educ. Today"},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2091","DOI":"10.6026\/9732063002002091","article-title":"Enhancing critical thinking and emotional coping of nursing students through life skills training","volume":"20","author":"Ramakrishnan","year":"2024","journal-title":"Bioinformation"},{"key":"ref_3","first-page":"31","article-title":"First-year nursing students\u2019 digital literacy: A cross-sectional study","volume":"13","author":"Harerimana","year":"2023","journal-title":"J. Nurs. Educ. Pract."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Anderson, T., Stark, P., Craig, S., McMullan, J., Anderson, G., Hughes, C., Gormley, K., Killough, J., McLaughlin-Borlace, N., and Steele, L. (2024). Co-design and evaluation of an audio podcast about sustainable development goals for undergraduate nursing and midwifery students. BMC Med. Educ., 24.","DOI":"10.1186\/s12909-024-06268-3"},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Baecker, D. (2022). Introducing audio podcasts into a practical laboratory course for pharmacy students as a novel tool for performance assessment. Pharmacy, 10.","DOI":"10.3390\/pharmacy10020040"},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"156","DOI":"10.1071\/MA23038","article-title":"Students\u2019 perspectives on a podcast-based assignment exercise, while learning to communicate about infections and vaccines","volume":"44","author":"Lloyd","year":"2023","journal-title":"Microbiol. Aust."},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Crooks, S., Stark, P., Carlisle, S., McMullan, J., Copeland, S., Wong, W.Y.A., Blake, D., Lyons, E., Campbell, N., and Carter, G. (2023). Evaluation of a co-designed Parkinson\u2019s awareness audio podcast for undergraduate nursing students in Northern Ireland. BMC Nurs., 22.","DOI":"10.1186\/s12912-023-01544-x"},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Mitchell, G., Scott, J., Carter, G., and Wilson, C.B. (2021). Evaluation of a delirium awareness podcast for undergraduate nursing students in Northern Ireland: A pre-\/post-test study. BMC Nurs., 20.","DOI":"10.1186\/s12912-021-00543-0"},{"key":"ref_9","first-page":"e31289","article-title":"A Multimodal evaluation of podcast learning, retention, and electroencephalographically measured attention in medical trainees","volume":"14","author":"Wolpaw","year":"2022","journal-title":"Cureus"},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"23779608261424597","DOI":"10.1177\/23779608261424597","article-title":"Transforming nursing education with artificial intelligence: A systematic review (2010\u20132025)","volume":"12","author":"Alrazeeni","year":"2026","journal-title":"SAGE Open Nurs."},{"key":"ref_11","first-page":"106","article-title":"Using Constructivism and Student-Centered Learning Approaches in Nursing Education","volume":"5","author":"Abualhaija","year":"2019","journal-title":"Int. J. Nurs. Health Care Res."},{"key":"ref_12","unstructured":"Vygotsky, L.S. (1978). Mind in Society: The Development of Higher Psychological Processes, Harvard University Press."},{"key":"ref_13","first-page":"89","article-title":"Constructivism theory analysis and application to curricula","volume":"31","author":"Brandon","year":"2010","journal-title":"Nurs. Educ. Perspect."},{"key":"ref_14","unstructured":"Bonwell, C.C., and Eison, J.A. (1991). Active Learning: Creating Excitement in the Classroom, George Washington University. ASHE-ERIC Higher Education Report No. 1."},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"192","DOI":"10.47310\/jpms2026150226","article-title":"Artificial intelligence\u2013enabled educational tools and clinical reasoning in undergraduate nursing education: A systematic review","volume":"14","author":"Jelloul","year":"2026","journal-title":"J. Pioneeering Med. Sci."},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"23779608251369564","DOI":"10.1177\/23779608251369564","article-title":"The impact of artificial intelligence attitudes and acceptance on critical thinking motivation among nursing students in Saudi Arabia","volume":"11","author":"AlOtaibi","year":"2025","journal-title":"SAGE Open Nurs."},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Nasr, N.R., Tu, C.H., Werner, J., Bauer, T., Yen, C.J., and Sujo-Montes, L. (2025). Exploring the impact of generative AI ChatGPT on critical thinking in higher education: Passive AI-directed use or human\u2013AI supported collaboration?. Educ. Sci., 15.","DOI":"10.3390\/educsci15091198"},{"key":"ref_18","unstructured":"Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (2025). Announcement of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation Re: Guidelines on Artificial Intelligence Instruction in Higher Education Institution Curricula B.E. 2568, Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation. Available online: https:\/\/www.ops.go.th\/th\/content_page\/item\/13535-E-office_policy."},{"key":"ref_19","unstructured":"Paul, R., and Elder, L. (2006). Critical Thinking: Tools for Taking Charge of Your Learning and Your Life, Pearson Prentice Hall. [2nd ed.]."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1065","DOI":"10.1016\/j.compedu.2012.04.016","article-title":"Can we teach digital natives digital literacy?","volume":"59","author":"Ng","year":"2012","journal-title":"Comput. Educ."},{"key":"ref_21","unstructured":"Carretero, S., Vuorikari, R., and Punie, Y. (2017). DigComp 2.1: The Digital Competence Framework for Citizens with Eight Proficiency Levels and Examples of Use, Publications Office of the European Union."},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"489","DOI":"10.1002\/nur.20147","article-title":"The content validity index: Are you sure you know what\u2019s being reported? Critique and recommendations","volume":"29","author":"Polit","year":"2006","journal-title":"Res. Nurs. Health"},{"key":"ref_23","unstructured":"Nunnally, J.C., and Bernstein, I.H. (1994). Psychometric Theory, McGraw-Hill. [3rd ed.]."},{"key":"ref_24","first-page":"50","article-title":"An introduction to the quasi-experimental design (nonrandomized design)","volume":"124","author":"Capili","year":"2024","journal-title":"Am. J. Nurs."},{"key":"ref_25","unstructured":"Polit, D.F., and Beck, C.T. (2017). Nursing Research: Generating and Assessing Evidence for Nursing Practice, Wolters Kluwer. [10th ed.]."},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"77","DOI":"10.1191\/1478088706qp063oa","article-title":"Using thematic analysis in psychology","volume":"3","author":"Braun","year":"2006","journal-title":"Qual. Res. Psychol."},{"key":"ref_27","unstructured":"Creswell, J.W., and Plano Clark, V.L. (2018). Designing and Conducting Mixed Methods Research, SAGE Publications. [3rd ed.]."},{"key":"ref_28","unstructured":"Hattie, J. (2009). Visible Learning: A Synthesis of Over 800 Meta-Analyses Relating to Achievement, Routledge."},{"key":"ref_29","unstructured":"Cohen, J. (1988). Statistical Power Analysis for the Behavioral Sciences, Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. [2nd ed.]."},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"699","DOI":"10.1080\/02602930701773026","article-title":"Controlling response-shift bias: The use of the retrospective pre-test design in the evaluation of a master\u2019s programme","volume":"33","author":"Drennan","year":"2008","journal-title":"Assess. Eval. High. Educ."}],"container-title":["Nursing Reports"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2039-4403\/16\/4\/127\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,17]],"date-time":"2026-04-17T04:14:25Z","timestamp":1776399265000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2039-4403\/16\/4\/127"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,10]]},"references-count":30,"journal-issue":{"issue":"4","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,4]]}},"alternative-id":["nursrep16040127"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/nursrep16040127","relation":{},"ISSN":["2039-4403"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2039-4403","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,10]]}}}