Psychometric validation of the Perceived Perioperative Competence Scale-Revised Short Form

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Healthcare Professional Development
• Psychometric Validation

Background:

• Assessing perioperative nurse competence is crucial for quality care and workforce planning.
• Existing tools may be lengthy, posing challenges for frequent use in training and development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a concise, psychometrically sound short form of the Perceived Perioperative Competence Scale-Revised (PPCS-R).
• To create a validated measure for perioperative nurses' perceived competence during specialty training.

Main Methods:

• A longitudinal online survey design was employed.
• A national sample of Australian perioperative nurses (n=485 at T1, n=164 at T2) completed the survey.
• Confirmatory factor analysis was used for item reduction and validation.

Main Results:

• The original 40-item PPCS-R was reduced to an 18-item measure, retaining six domains.
• The short form demonstrated strong internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha .92 at T1, .90 at T2).
• Validation showed moderate to weak positive correlations with general self-efficacy and experience.

Conclusions:

• The 18-item Perceived Perioperative Competence Scale-Revised Short Form exhibits robust psychometric properties.
• This scale is suitable for implementation in perioperative transition-to-practice, orientation, and professional development programs.
• It offers a valid and efficient option for assessing perioperative nurse competence in clinical and research settings.