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Published on: August 29, 2025
Validation of the Professional Practice Environment Scale in Australian general practice
Elizabeth J Halcomb1, Patricia M Davidson, Belinda Caldwell
1School of Nursing and Midwifery, Family & Community Health Research Group, University of Western Sydney, Penrith South DC, NSW, Australia. e.halcomb@uws.edu.au
Summary
A validated 30-item Professional Practice Environment Scale (PPE) reliably assesses the practice environment for nurses in Australian general practice. This tool aids in understanding factors influencing nurse recruitment and retention.
Area of Science:
- Nursing Research
- Health Services Research
- Psychometrics
Background:
- The professional practice environment significantly impacts nurse recruitment, retention, and satisfaction.
- Assessing this environment in Australian general practice is crucial for workforce stability.
- Existing tools may require adaptation for specific healthcare settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To validate the Professional Practice Environment Scale (PPE) for use in Australian general practice.
- To establish a reliable and valid instrument for measuring the general practice nursing environment.
Main Methods:
- The 38-item Professional Practice Environment Scale (PPE) was adapted for Australian general practice.
- An online survey collected data from 342 Australian general practice nurses.
- Principal components analysis with Varimax rotation examined the factor structure.
Main Results:
- An eight-factor solution explained 71.6% of the variance.
- Eight items with low or cross-factor loadings were identified.
- Deleting these eight items minimally affected the reliability of related components.
Conclusions:
- A 30-item version of the PPE is a reliable and valid measure for Australian general practice nurses.
- This validated tool can monitor the work environment's impact on nursing workforce dynamics.
- The findings support the use of the PPE to improve nurse retention and satisfaction in general practice.
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