Psychometric Evaluation of a Self-Report Evidence-Based Practice Tool Using Rasch Analysis

Abstract

Aims: This paper reports if estimates of final year nursing students' self-rated abilities in responding to evidence-based practice (EBP) issues is a psychometrically robust measure.

Background: EBP as it applies to nursing continues to be heralded as a method to improve clinical patient care. Health professionals such as nurses are well positioned to respond to this demand; however, evidence suggests they are not always able to embrace this important foundation of everyday nursing practice.

Design: Instrument development.

Methods: The study was a survey set in a large teaching university in Adelaide, South Australia. The evidence-based practice survey was made available to a convenience sample of 471 final year nursing students, with a response rate of 79.6% (n = 375). Rasch analysis was used to critique and develop a scale for future learning based on the conjoint estimates of nursing students' self-efficacy estimates, when meeting the challenges of various EBP of differing complexities.

Results: Outcomes confirm that final year nursing students' EBP ability measures can be reliably estimated and a hierarchical scale of learning can be developed for use by beginning registered nurses' in their staff development.

Linking evidence to action: Although Australian health and nursing authorities acknowledge the desirability of the nursing workforce in adopting EBP for patient management, elements of this approach remains problematic for nurses. Measures to estimate EBP skills difficulty can be reliably generated to inform EBP education and skills development.

Keywords: Rasch analysis; evidence-based practice; instrument development; nurses; self-rated ability; survey.