Preliminary Psychometrics of the Knowledge and Attitudes Toward SBAR Instrument (KA-SBAR)

When measuring new practice approaches for improving patient safety in the clinical setting, researchers need instruments with evidence of reliability and validity.

The purpose of this analysis was to examine the reliability and validity of an instrument to assess knowledge and attitudes toward communication using situation-background-assessment-recommendation (SBAR; KA-SBAR).

This psychometric analysis was conducted with data from an interprofessional simulation-based learning experience with doctor of nursing practice students (n = 19) and physical therapy students (n = 52). Internal consistency reliability and construct validity tests including factor analysis for the KA-SBAR were conducted.

The KA-SBAR instrument had adequate internal consistency reliability and evidence of construct validity, including identification of two factors that explained 70% of the instrument's variance. However, there may be a ceiling effect of scores, making it difficult to show change.

The KA-SBAR instrument may be useful in assessing clinicians' perceptions of SBAR communication in education and practice settings.

When selecting data collection measures, nurses need to carefully consider the purpose of the measure and evidence of the instrument's reliability and validity. Educators need to consider the clinical expertise of the students in designing challenging simulations to advance learning.