Development Study of the Medical Device Self-Efficacy Scale: A Validity and Reliability Study.

PURPOSE: This study aims to develop and evaluate the validity and reliability of the Medical Device Self-Efficacy Scale among nursing students. The scale assesses perceived competence in using medical devices and supports identifying educational needs.

DESIGN

The study used an exploratory methodological design.

METHODS

The study was conducted with 127 final-year nursing students between April and October 2023. Students completed the scale for three medical devices: a bedside monitor, an infusion pump, and a suction device. Content validity, construct validity, and criterion validity were evaluated. Construct validity was examined through exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, while reliability was assessed through Cronbach's α, item-total correlations, and test-retest methods.

FINDINGS: The scale demonstrated good content validity with an index of 0.84. Exploratory factor analysis showed the scale is unidimensional with 12 items. Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin values for each device exceeded 0.85, and the proportion of explained variance was above 65%. Factor loadings ranged from 0.602 to 0.899. Confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated a good fit for the hypothesized model (χ² = 103.637 to 183.4; χ²/df = 2.159 to 3.987; root mean square error of approximation = 0.065 to 0.076; goodness of fit index = 0.901 to 0.902; cognitive flexibility inventory = 0.918 to 0.957; normed fit index = 0.901 to 0.923; incremental fit index = 0.919 to 0.957). Reliability analyses showed that Cronbach's α coefficients were above 0.90, and high test-retest correlation coefficients further supported the scale's reliability (r = 0.744 to 0.795; P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

The 12-item scale is reliable and valid for assessing nursing students' perceived competencies with medical devices.