Development and psychometric evaluation of the radiographers’ competence scale
ABSTRACT
Assessing the competence of registered radiographers’ clinical work is of great importance because of the recent change in nursing focus and rapid technological development. Self-assessment assists radiographers to validate and improve clinical practice by identifying their strengths as well as areas that may need to be developed. The aim of the study was to develop and psychometrically test a specially designed instrument, the Radiographers Competence Scale (RCS). A cross sectional survey was conducted comprising 406 randomly selected radiographers all over Sweden. The study consisted of two phases; the development of the instrument and evaluation of its psychometric properties. The first phase included three steps: 1) construction of the RCS; 2) pilot testing of face and content validity; and 3) creation of a web-based 54-item questionnaire for testing the instrument. The second phase comprised psychometric evaluation of construct validity, internal consistency reliability and item reduction. The analysis reduced the initial 54 items of the RCS to 28 items. A logical two-factor solution was identified explaining 53.8% of the total variance. The first factor labelled “Nurse initiated care” explained 31.7% of the total variance. Factor 2 labelled “Technical and radiographic processes” explained 22.1% of the total variance. The scale had good internal consistency reliability, with a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.87. The RCS is a short, easy to administer scale for capturing radiographers’ competence levels and the frequency of using their competence. The scale was found to be valid and reliable. The self-assessment RCS can be used in management, patient safety and quality improvement to enhance the radiographic process.
Assessing the competence of registered radiographers’ clinical work is of great importance because of the recent change in nursing focus and rapid technological development. Self-assessment assists radiographers to validate and improve clinical practice by identifying their strengths as well as areas that may need to be developed. The aim of the study was to develop and psychometrically test a specially designed instrument, the Radiographers Competence Scale (RCS). A cross sectional survey was conducted comprising 406 randomly selected radiographers all over Sweden. The study consisted of two phases; the development of the instrument and evaluation of its psychometric properties. The first phase included three steps: 1) construction of the RCS; 2) pilot testing of face and content validity; and 3) creation of a web-based 54-item questionnaire for testing the instrument. The second phase comprised psychometric evaluation of construct validity, internal consistency reliability and item reduction. The analysis reduced the initial 54 items of the RCS to 28 items. A logical two-factor solution was identified explaining 53.8% of the total variance. The first factor labelled “Nurse initiated care” explained 31.7% of the total variance. Factor 2 labelled “Technical and radiographic processes” explained 22.1% of the total variance. The scale had good internal consistency reliability, with a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.87. The RCS is a short, easy to administer scale for capturing radiographers’ competence levels and the frequency of using their competence. The scale was found to be valid and reliable. The self-assessment RCS can be used in management, patient safety and quality improvement to enhance the radiographic process.
Cite this paper
Andersson, B. , Christensson, L. , Fridlund, B. and Broström, A. (2012) Development and psychometric evaluation of the radiographers’ competence scale. Open Journal of Nursing, 2, 85-96. doi: 10.4236/ojn.2012.22014.
Andersson, B. , Christensson, L. , Fridlund, B. and Broström, A. (2012) Development and psychometric evaluation of the radiographers’ competence scale. Open Journal of Nursing, 2, 85-96. doi: 10.4236/ojn.2012.22014.
References
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[18] The Swedish Society of Radiographers and The Swedish Association of Health Professionals (2008) Code of Ethics for Radiographers. The Swedish Association of Health Professionals, Stockholm. http://www.swedrad.com [19] Streiner, D.L. and Norman, G.R. (2008) Health measurement scales: A practical guide to their development and use. 4th Edition, Oxford University Press, Oxford. [20] Burns, N. and Grove, S.K. (2001) The practice of nursing research: Conduct, critique & utilization. 4th Edition, Saunders, Philadelphia. [21] Lynn, M.R. (1986) Determination and quantification of content validity. Nursing Research, 35, 382-385. doi:10.1097/00006199-198611000-00017 [22] Berk, R.A. (1990) Importance of expert judgment in content-related validity evidence. Western Journal Nursing Research, 12, 659-671. doi:10.1177/019394599001200507 [23] Cronbach, L.J. and Warrington, W.G. (1951) Time-limit tests: Estimating their reliability and degree of speeding. 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[1] McCready, T. (2007) Portfolios and the assessment of competence in nursing: A literature review. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 44, 143-151. doi:10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2006.01.013 [2] Redfern, S., Norman, I., Calman, L., Watson, R. and Murrells, T. (2002) Assessing competence to practice in nursing: A review of the literature. Research Paper Education, 17, 51-77. [3] Ramritu, P.L. and Barnard, A. (2001) New nurse graduates’ understanding of competence. International Nursing Review, 48, 47-57. doi:10.1046/j.1466-7657.2001.00048.x [4] Watson, R., Calman, L., Norman, I., Redfern, S. and Murrells, T. (2002) Assessing clinical competence in student nurses. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 11, 554-555. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2702.2002.00590.x [5] While, A.E. (1994) Competence versus performance: Which is more important? Journal of Advanced Nursing, 20, 525-531. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2648.1994.tb02391.x [6] Eraut, M., Germain, J., James, J., Cole, J.J., Bowring, S. and Pearson, J. (1998) Evaluation of vocational training of science graduates in the NHS. University of Sussex School of Education, Brighton. [7] Benner, P. (1984) From novice to expert: Excellence and power in clinical nursing practice. Addison-Wesley, Menlo Park. [8] Meretoja, R., Isoaho, H. and Leino-Kilpi, H. (2004) Nurse Competence scale: Development and psychometric testing. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 47, 124-133. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2648.2004.03071.x [9] Liu, M., Kunaiktikul, W., Senaratana, W., Tonmukayakul, O. and Eriksen, L. (2007) Development of competency inventory for registered nurses in the People’s Republic of China: Scale development. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 44, 805-813. doi:10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2006.01.010 [10] Johannessen, K.S. (1999) Praxis och tyst kunnande. Dialoger, Stockholm. [11] Polanyi, M. (1967) The tacit dimension. Doubleday, Garden City. [12] Dreyfus, H.L., Dreyfus, S.E. and Athanasiou, T. (1986) Mind over machine: The power of human intuition and expertise in the era of the computer. Basil Blackwell, Oxford. [13] Dreyfus, H.L. (1982) Husserl, intentionality and cognitive science. MIT Press, Cambridge. [14] Benner, P.E., Chesla, C.A. and Tanner, C.A. (1996) Expertise in nursing practice: Caring, clinical judgment, and ethics. Springer Pub. Co., New York. [15] Reeves, P.J. (1999) Models of Care for Diagnostic Radiography and their use in the education of undergraduate and postgraduate radiographers. Dissertation, University of Wales, Bangor. [16] Andersson, B., Fridlund, B., Elgan, C. and Axelsson, ?. (2008) Radiographers’ areas of professional competence related to good nursing care. Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences, 22, 401-409. doi:10.1111/j.1471-6712.2007.00543.x [17] Campbell, B. and Mackay, G. (2001) Continuing competence: An Ontario nursing regulatory program that supports nurses and employers. Nursing Administration Quarterly, 25, 22-30. [18] The Swedish Society of Radiographers and The Swedish Association of Health Professionals (2008) Code of Ethics for Radiographers. The Swedish Association of Health Professionals, Stockholm. http://www.swedrad.com [19] Streiner, D.L. and Norman, G.R. (2008) Health measurement scales: A practical guide to their development and use. 4th Edition, Oxford University Press, Oxford. [20] Burns, N. and Grove, S.K. (2001) The practice of nursing research: Conduct, critique & utilization. 4th Edition, Saunders, Philadelphia. [21] Lynn, M.R. (1986) Determination and quantification of content validity. Nursing Research, 35, 382-385. doi:10.1097/00006199-198611000-00017 [22] Berk, R.A. (1990) Importance of expert judgment in content-related validity evidence. Western Journal Nursing Research, 12, 659-671. doi:10.1177/019394599001200507 [23] Cronbach, L.J. and Warrington, W.G. (1951) Time-limit tests: Estimating their reliability and degree of speeding. Psychometrika, 6, 167-188. doi:10.1007/BF02289113 [24] Nunnally, J.C. and Bernstein, I.H. (1994) Psychometric theory. 3rd Edition, McGraw-Hill, New York. [25] Pett, M.A., Lackey, N.R. and Sullivan, J.J. (2003) Making sense of factor analysis: The use of factor analysis for instrument development in health care research. SAGE, London. [26] Field, A. (2005) Discovering statistics using SPSS. 2nd Edition, SAGE, London. [27] DeVellis, R.F. (2003) Scale development: Theory and applications. 2nd Edition, Sage, Newbury Park. [28] MFR-Rapport (2002) Riktlinjer f?r etisk v?rdering av medicinsk humanforskning: Forskningsetisk policy och organisation i Sverige. (Guidelines for ethical valuation of medical human research: Research ethics about policy and organization in Sweden.) 2nd Edition, Swedish Research Council in Medicine, Stockholm. [29] Sykepleiernes Samarbeid i Norden (2003) Etiska riktlinjer f?r omv?rdnadsforskning i Norden (in Swedish). (Ethical recommendations for nursing research in the Nordic countries.) http://www.ssn-nnf.org/vard/index.html [30] SFS 2003: 460. Lag om etikpr?vning av forskning som avser m?nniskor (in Swedish). (Law for ethical approval regarding research on humans.) Stockholm, The Riksdag. http://www.riksdagen.se/webbnav/index.aspx?nid=3911&bet=2003:460 [31] The Official Secrets Act 1989 (Prescription) (Amendment). http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2007/2148/pdfs/uksi_20072148_en.pdf [32] Smith, T.N. and Baird, M. (2007) Radiographers’ role in radiological reporting: A model to support future demand. Medical Journal of Australia, 186, 629-631. [33] Price, R.C. and Le Mausurier, S.B. (2007) Longitudinal changes in extended roles in radiography: A new perspective. Radiography, 13, 18-29. doi:10.1016/j.radi.2005.11.001 [34] Reeves, P.J. (2008) Research in medical imaging and the role of the consultant radiographer: A discussion. Radiography, 14, 61-64. doi:10.1016/j.radi.2008.11.004 [35] Rattray, J. and Jones, M.C. (2007) Essential elements of questionnaire design and development. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 16, 234-243. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2702.2006.01573.x [36] Tabachnick, B.G. and Fidell, L.S. (2007) Experimental designs using ANOVA. Thomson/Brooks/Cole, Belmont. [37] Pallant, J. (2010) SPSS survival manual: A step by step guide to data analysis using SPSS. 4th Edition, Open University Press/McGrawHill, Maidenhead. [38] Polit, D.F. and Beck, C.T. (2008) Nursing research: Generating and assessing evidence for nursing practice. 8th Edition, Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia.