Developing an instrument to measure effective factors on Clinical Learning

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education Research
• Educational Psychology
• Health Professions Education

Background:

• Clinical learning is a critical component of nursing education, yet its nature and influencing factors remain underexplored.
• Developing effective clinical learning experiences is essential for preparing competent nursing professionals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate an instrument to measure the effective factors on clinical learning from the perspective of nursing students.
• To provide a tool for assessing and improving the quality of clinical education in nursing programs.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods approach was employed, beginning with qualitative content analysis of semi-structured interviews with nursing students to define clinical learning.
• A questionnaire was developed based on interview data and subsequently validated for face, content, construct, and internal consistency using data from 227 nursing students.
• Psychometric properties were evaluated using exploratory factor analysis and Cronbach's alpha coefficient.

Main Results:

• A preliminary 102-item questionnaire was refined to a 41-item instrument after validity assessments.
• Exploratory factor analysis identified three key factors influencing clinical learning: instructor-staff, students, and educational factors.
• The final questionnaire demonstrated high internal consistency, with a Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.93.

Conclusions:

• The developed 41-item questionnaire is an effective instrument for studying factors influencing clinical learning in nursing students.
• The instrument captures student perceptions, defines facilitating and hindering factors, and possesses suitable validity, reliability, and applicability for diverse clinical settings.