Learning strategies in nursing sciences: Analysis of gender disparities in a Moroccan educational context

Abstract

Introduction

The 2013 reform of the nursing education system in Morocco, which introduced the License-Master-Doctorate framework and the establishment of Higher Institutes of Nursing Professions and Health Techniques (ISPITS), aimed to modernize higher education and enhance nursing practices. This study examines gender differences in learning strategies among nursing students, considering Morocco's cultural specificities.

Subjects and methods

An exploratory study was conducted with 625 first-year students enrolled in three ISPITS in the Marrakech-Safi region during the first semester of the 2022–2023 academic year. Data were collected using the “Mes Outils de Travail Intellectuel” questionnaire, adapted to the Moroccan context. Statistical analyses employed non-parametric tests, including the Mann–Whitney U test for gender comparisons, and a generalized linear model to control for confounding variables such as the institution of origin and field of study.

Results

The findings indicate an overall homogeneity between genders in the use of cognitive, metacognitive, and affective tools, with a statistically significant but weak difference in the “Structuring-Reorganization” dimension (p = 0.044, small effect size).

Conclusion

The study highlights a general equity in learning strategies, challenging gender stereotypes. However, the overrepresentation of women (78.2%) in the sample limits the analysis of male behaviors. These findings emphasize the need for inclusive pedagogies tailored to local specificities and mixed-method approaches to further explore sociocultural and educational dynamics.