[Translation and validity testing of the Self-Assessment of Nursing Informatics Competencies Scale]

Digital competencies are essential skills in modern nursing practice. Until now, no validated instrument has been available for assessing these competencies among nursing students in German-speaking countries. This study aimed to culturally adapt and validate the Self-Assessment of Nursing Informatics Competencies Scale for this context.

The scale was translated and culturally adapted in accordance with the Principles of Good Practice for the Translation and Cultural Adaptation Process for Patient-Reported Outcome Measures of the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcome Research. Content validity was evaluated in a two-stage expert review (n = 20) using the Content Validity Index. To assess construct validity, a pretest was conducted with 140 nursing students enrolled in an Austrian bachelor level degree program. Data analysis included principal component analysis with Varimax rotation and evaluation of internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha, Spearman-Brown coefficient).

The principal component analysis confirmed the three-factor model ("Basic Computer Skills", "Role", "Applied computer skills: clinical informatics"), which explained 63.86% of the total variance. Internal consistency was high for two subscales (α = .92; ρ = .77), and moderate for the third (α = .58). Known-groups analysis revealed significantly different scores between students with and without perceived need for additional computer training, supporting construct validity.

With the German translation of the Self-Assessment of Nursing Informatics Competencies Scale, a valid instrument is now available to assess nursing students' self-perceived digital competence in German-speaking countries. It can contribute to quantitatively measuring the learning and teaching of digital competencies in nursing education.