Development and psychometric evaluation of Nurses and Midwives’ Perceptions of their Roles in Primary Healthcare

ObjectiveThis study aimed to develop Nurses and Midwives’ Perceptions of their Roles in Primary Healthcare (NMPR-PHC) and evaluate its psychometric properties.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was performed to recruit a convenient sample of 150 registered nurses and midwives from various primary healthcare settings in Jordan. Reliability was evaluated by examining the internal consistency and split-half reliability of the item. A exploratory factor analysis was performed to assess the factor structure of the NMPR-PHC.ResultsThe final version of NMPR-PHC contained 18 items. Exploratory factor analysis revealed six factors (care coordination and interprofessional collaboration, workplace facilitators of the primary healthcare, management of care, research, workplace constraints of primary healthcare, and advanced education) for the questionnaire which explained 66.49% of the total variance. The Cronbach’s α of the total scale was 0.834, the subscales Cronbach’s α were ranging between 0.662 and 0.770, and the split-half reliability of the total scale was 0.734.ConclusionThe overall performance of the questionnaire showed promising sound psychometric properties. The NMPR-PHC can be recommended for use as a tool for the assessment of nurses and midwives’ perceptions of their roles in primary healthcare.     

An integrative literature review of pre-registration nursing students’ attitudes and perceptions towards primary healthcare

BackgroundThere is a renewed focus on the role of primary healthcare within the health system due to an ageing population, increasing cost of acute healthcare services, and an emphasis on developing healthier communities. Associated with this focus is the need for an increase in primary healthcare workforce capacity. Despite this, primary healthcare is rarely prioritised within the pre-registration nursing curricula. By understanding the perspectives and experiences of student nurses regarding clinical placement in primary healthcare, educators and industry will be better informed to support the student nurse within this setting.AimThe aim of this integrative literature review was to identify the established knowledge regarding the attitudes, perceptions and experiences of student nurses attending clinical placement within primary healthcare.MethodsA search of electronic databases including Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Pubmed, Proquest, Informit, Scopus, Clinical Key and Google Scholar was undertaken. The review included papers over a 10 year period; January 2007 to December 2017. Quality evaluation was undertaken using a Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool and the selected papers were then analysed thematically.FindingsAnalysis identified two interrelated themes. The first theme primary healthcare clinical experience is comprised of three sub themes; learning on placement, context of care, and support on placement. This theme discusses students understanding of primary healthcare practice and learning. The second theme attitudes towards primary healthcare also comprises three sub themes including focus on acute care, usefulness of placement, and autonomy in practice. This theme highlights the varied perspectives and attitudes pre-registration student nurses hold towards nursing within primary healthcare and their clinical placement experience.ConclusionStudent nurses are reported to have both positive and negative attitudes towards primary healthcare nursing. Despite this, clinical placement within primary healthcare is generally well received by the student nurse. To support student nurses in their learning within primary healthcare, it is essential to offer both theoretical content and clinical experiences which address preconceptions and attitudes towards the setting.     

Development and psychometric testing of the preceptors’ orientation competence instrument (POCI)

AimTo develop and psychometrically test a Preceptors’ Orientation Competence Instrument measuring orientation competence of nurses working as new employee preceptors.BackgroundCompetence of nurse preceptor is essential for a successful preceptorship and thus nursing staff´s commitment to the organization.DesignInstrument development according to the COSMIN guidelines.Methods and participantsFour phases were implemented: 1) establishment of the theoretical framework, modification of the validated Mentor Competence Instrument and generation of new items; 2) content validity testing; 3) structural validity testing; and 4) internal consistency testing. Content validity was evaluated by 14 experts using content validity index methods. Structural validity was evaluated using exploratory factor analysis with a convenience sample of 844 Finnish nurses. Internal consistency was evaluated by measuring Cronbach’s alpha.ResultsThe content validity index of subdimensions of the instrument ranged from 0.80 to 0.94 for relevance and 0.80–0.94 for clarity. Exploratory factor analysis resulted in a seven-factor model with 53 items (61.62% of total variance): preceptor characteristics, goal-oriented orientation, guidance in reflective discussion, knowledge of work unit orientation practices, creation of a supportive learning atmosphere, preceptor motivation and giving of developmental feedback. Cronbach’s alpha values varied from 0.79 to 0.93.ConclusionPreceptors’ Orientation Competence Instrument demonstrated adequate psychometric properties based on content and construct validity as well as internal consistency. Therefore, it is useful for self-evaluation of orientation competence of nurses working as new employee preceptors.     

Women’s knowledge of and attitude towards disability in rural Nepal

Purpose: What is perceived to be a disability is both culturally specific and related to levels of development and modernity. This paper explores knowledge and attitudes towards people with disabilities among rural women in Nepal, one of the poorer countries in South Asia. Method: Four hundred and twelve married women of reproductive age (aged 15–49 years), from four villages in two different parts of Nepal, who had delivered a child within the last 24 months preceding the study, completed a standard questionnaire. Results: The majority of the participants only considered physical conditions that limit function of an individual and are visible to naked eyes, such as missing a leg or arm, to be disability. Attitudes towards people with disability were generally positive, for example most women believed that disabled people should have equal rights and should be allowed to sit on committees or get married. Most respondents thought that disability could result from: (i) accidents; (ii) medical conditions; or (iii) genetic inheritance. Fewer women thought that disability was caused by fate or bad spirits. Conclusions: There is need to educate the general population on disability, especially the invisible disabilities. There is also a need for further research on disability and its social impact.

Implications for Rehabilitation

• There is need to educate the general population on disability, especially the invisible disabilities and its rehabilitation. There is also a need for further research on disability and its social impact.

     

The effect of multimedia-based education in e-learning on nursing students’ academic success and motivation: A randomised controlled study

BackgroundStudents who receive e-learning in nursing education state that they cannot learn the lessons effectively. This study aims to evaluate the effect of multimedia teaching materials on students' academic achievement and motivation in e-learning.MethodsThe quasi-experimental study was performed on 70 students. The experimental group students were presented with multimedia materials, and the control group students were taught the e-learning course.ResultsIn this study, regarding the effect of multimedia-based education on students’ Instructional Materials Motivation Survey, the mean score of the control group was 85.25 ± 11.95, and the mean score of the experimental group was 94.44 ± 11.82 after the intervention. A moderately significant positive correlation was found between the experimental group's average academic achievement and total scale scores.ConclusionThe study results show that the participants accepted the important role of multimedia as practical learning compared to traditional learning methods. Given the impact of multimedia-based education on academic achievement, this approach can be used to teach other core subjects to nursing students.     

Effectiveness of simulation-based education on nursing students’ professional knowledge,attitude and self-confidence in handling child abuse cases

AimThis study aimed to enhance nursing students’ professional knowledge, attitudes and self-confidence in handling child abuse cases through a Child Abuse Simulation-Based Education (CASE).BackgroundGiven that nursing students seldom learn about child abuse case management in textbooks, simulation-based education could assist them in appropriately handling child abuse cases when they become nurses.DesignUsing a quasi-experimental design.Methods190 nurses enrolled in a night school in-service program at a Taiwanese university were recruited for this study. Ninety-four nurses in the experimental group took a simulation-based education on child abuse while 96 nurses in the contrast group took a general nursing course. The pretest and posttest professional knowledge, attitudes and self-confidence of both groups were analyzed using generalized estimating equations in SPSS V22 software.ResultsFollowing the introduction of the CASE course, the experimental group’s posttest professional knowledge, attitudes and self-confidence in handling child abuse cases were higher than those of the contrast group (p < .001). Further analysis showed that professional knowledge increased with tenure, positivity in attitude increased with clinical ladder rating and male nurses were more confident than female nurses when handling child abuse cases.ConclusionsBased on the results, this study proposes recommendations for implementing child abuse simulation-based education for new nurses and those undergoing continuing education.     

Cognition and dementia with Raymond and Brain: Curriculum development and evaluation using interactive animated flipped-classroom modules to impact nursing students’ attitude toward dementia care

AimTo design a modular, flipped-classroom curriculum using character animations to improve knowledge and attitudes regarding dementia care among pre-clinical nursing students.BackgroundDemographic trends suggest an urgent, unmet need for nurses with interest and adequate training in caring for people with dementia and other disorders of cognition. While flipped classrooms using video show promise, little is known about specific animation techniques to impact knowledge and attitudes in preclinical nursing education.DesignA curriculum was developed, implemented and assessed across three nursing schools in series, totaling 223 eligible students in the states of Connecticut and Hawaii, USA from 2019 to 2022. The evaluation included prospective pre-post assessment of knowledge, attitudes and module acceptability, as well as qualitative interpretations of needs assessment data.MethodsThe six-step curriculum development process was based on that described by Kern et al., including: 1) general needs assessment in the form of literature review; 2) targeted needs assessment, in the form of faculty stakeholder meetings, a student focus group and baseline surveys; 3) optimization of learning objectives based on needs; 4) development of a pedagogical approach, namely animated, interactive modules informed by previously described best practices in animation development; 5) implementation across three different nursing schools; and 6) assessment of the learners and evaluation of the curriculum, primarily via surveys and engagement metadata.ResultsNeeds assessments confirmed the importance of prior experiences, sense of mission and other affective elements as key factors mitigating learners’ baseline receptiveness to training and careers in cognition-related care. Students at all three institutions rated the modules’ impact on their dementia-related attitudes highly, however these ratings were statistically significantly lower when both modules were delivered as a single assignment at one site. Knowledge quiz scores significantly increased from baseline at all three sites. Only 2.6% of respondents would have preferred a text-based reading assignment. Acceptability scores, including clarity, relevance, entertainment, attention and complexity, were generally rated highly, but attention and entertainment were rated significantly lower when both modules were administered as a single assignment.ConclusionCognition and Dementia with Raymond and Brain demonstrates the successful blending of animation industry workflows with best practices of curriculum development to create a novel, animated module series that is acceptable and effective in priming nursing students with the attitudes and knowledge to continue learning about cognition and its disorders.     

First-year nursing students’ attitudes towards artificial intelligence: Cross-sectional multi-center study

AimTo assess the attitudes of nursing students toward artificial intelligence.BackgroundPossible applications of artificial intelligence-powered systems in nursing cover all aspects of nursing care, from patient care to risk management. Although the final acceptance of artificial intelligence in practice will depend on positive 'nurses' attitudes toward artificial intelligence, those attitudes have gained little attention so far.DesignA cross-sectional multicenter study.MethodsThe study was performed at nursing schools of four Croatian universities, surveying a total of 336 first-year nursing students (response rate 69.7%) enrolled in 2021. A validated instrument, the General Attitudes towards Artificial Intelligence Scale, consisting of 20 Likert-type items, was chosen for the study. Where applicable, the items were contextualized for nursing. Four sub-scales were identified based on the outcomes of the factor analysis.ResultsThe average attitude score was (mean ± standard deviation) 64.5 ± 11.7, out of a maximum of 100, which was significantly higher than the neutral score of 60.0 (p < 0.001). The attitude towards AI did not differ across the universities and was not associated with students’ age. Male students scored slightly higher than their female colleagues. Scores on subscales “Benefits of artificial intelligence in nursing”, “Willingness to use artificial intelligence in nursing practice”, and “Dangers of artificial intelligence” were favorable of artificial intelligence-based solutions. However, scores on the subscale “Practical advantages of artificial intelligence” were somewhat unfavorable.ConclusionsFirst-year nursing students had slightly positive attitudes towards artificial intelligence in nursing, which should make it easier for the new generations of nurses to embrace and implement artificial intelligence systems. Reservations about artificial intelligence in daily nursing practice indicate that nursing students might benefit from education focused specifically on applications of artificial intelligence in nursing.     

First year undergraduate nursing students’ perceptions of the effectiveness of blended learning approaches for nursing numeracy

The ability to safely calculate and administer medications are indispensable, core nursing skills in nursing education and practice. Therefore, it is imperative that nursing students are adequately prepared with the necessary numeracy skills during their undergraduate nursing studies. The focus of this study, conducted at a single multi-campus university in the western Sydney region of Australia, was to determine the effectiveness of a suite of blended learning approaches on numeracy self-efficacy from the students' perspective. Surveys were administered as part of the study and included open-ended questions. 525 students provided open-ended responses that were analysed by the research team. Four main themes were identified from the open-ended responses: (i) Self-realisation; (ii) Practice, practice, practice; (iii) Boosting confidence; and (iv) Wanting more. The themes captured students' perceptions of the benefits of having a rigorous learning design in blended learning approaches. The study showed that a structured pedagogical approach to nursing numeracy in undergraduate programs improved students’ self-reported self-efficacy with mathematics and assisted students in realising the importance of learning and applying these skills as nursing clinicians.