Factor analysis of the transcultural self-efficacy tool (TSET)

he factor structure of the Transcultural Self-Efficacy Tool (TSET) was analyzed using data from 272 culturally diverse undergraduate nursing students. The TSET is a questionnaire designed to measure students' confidence for performing general transcultural nursing skills among diverse client populations. Using the most recent imputation techniques for missing data, researchers demonstrate how common exploratory factor analysis (CEFA)--(as opposed to principal components analysis)--can (and should be) used in examining the factorial composition of the tool. Standard errors for factor loadings were computed and utilized in deciding whether a given item loaded significantly on a factor and whether the difference between the factor loadings of two or more items on the same factor were statistically significant. The CEFA, comprised of 69 of the 83 items, yielded four factors--"Knowledge and Understanding'," "Interview," "Awareness, Acceptance, and Appreciation," and "Recognition"--with internal consistency ranging from .94 to .98. Reliability of the total instrument was .99. It was concluded that the present CEFA study continues to support that the TSET assesses the multidimensional nature of transcultural self-efficacy while also differentiating between three types of learning: cognitive, practical, and affective. The benefits of this support allow the researcher/ educator to move beyond mere assessment to the design, implementation, and evaluation of diagnostic-prescriptive teaching strategies for cultural competence education.