| Summary: | <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Information about web-based education outcomes in comparison with a face-to-face format can help researchers and tutors prepare and deliver future web-based or face-to-face courses more efficiently. The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of web-based and face-to-face continuing education methods in improving nurses' knowledge about AIDS.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A quasi-experimental method was used with a pre-test and post-test design. In this study 140 nurses with BSc degrees were chosen through a random sampling method and divided into a web-based and a face-to-face group by random allocation. For the former group the intervention consisted of a web-based course on AIDS; the latter received a 3-hour lecture course on the same subject. At the beginning and end of the course in both groups, the nurses' knowledge was measured by a questionnaire. Pre- and post-test scores were compared within and between the groups.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The results show that there was no significant difference between the groups in either the pre-test (t<sub>(138) </sub>= -1.7, <it>p </it>= 0.096) nor the post-test (t<sub>(138) </sub>= -1.4, <it>p </it>= 0.163) scores in the knowledge test. However, there was a significant difference in the pre-test and post-test scores within each group (web-based, <it>t</it><sub>(69) </sub>= 26, <it>p </it>< .001; face-to-face, <it>t</it><sub>(69) </sub>= 24.3, <it>p </it>< .001).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The web-based method seems to be as effective as the face-to-face method in the continuing education of nurses. Therefore, the web-based method is recommended, as complementary to the face-to-face method, for designing and delivering some topics of continuing education programs for nurses.</p>
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