Development and validation of a learning needs assessment scale: a continuing professional education tool for multiple sclerosis specialist nurses

TY - JOUR

T1 - Development and validation of a learning needs assessment scale: a continuing professional education tool for multiple sclerosis specialist nurses

AU - While, Alison

AU - Ullman, R

AU - Forbes, Angus

PY - 2007/6

Y1 - 2007/6

N2 - Aim: To develop and validate a learning needs assessment scale. Background: Learning needs analysis is a central component of continuing professional development but there is a lack of psychometrically developed learning needs assessment tools. Self-assessment questionnaires are emerging as a key method. The development of a learning needs analysis scale for multiple sclerosis specialist nurses is described. Design; A psychometric approach comprising the three phases of the development and testing of the scale are outlined. Method: Phase 1: Item identification using a literature review; postal survey of stakeholders (n = 320), 20 nurse interviews; four nurse focus groups; five telephone interviews with people with MS. Phase 2: Refinement of draft scale and establishing face and content validity testing using an expert panel. Phase 3: Testing of draft scale using data from a postal survey (n = 47 MS specialist nurses) to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of scale, internal consistency and construct validity. Test–retest reliability was assessed using data from 17 MS specialist nurse respondents to calculate intra-class correlation coefficients. Results: The data from the different study phases informed scale refinement. The validity and reliability of the scale was confirmed through testing. Conclusion: The study provides an example of how a robust learning needs assessment scale may be developed for a specialist area of nursing practice to be used in conjunction with more subjective approaches. Relevance to clinical practice. High quality nursing care depends upon a competent nursing workforce that engages in continuing professional development. This study provides an example of a psychometrically developed learning needs assessment scale to inform continuing professional development needs of nurses working in a specialist area of practice.

AB - Aim: To develop and validate a learning needs assessment scale. Background: Learning needs analysis is a central component of continuing professional development but there is a lack of psychometrically developed learning needs assessment tools. Self-assessment questionnaires are emerging as a key method. The development of a learning needs analysis scale for multiple sclerosis specialist nurses is described. Design; A psychometric approach comprising the three phases of the development and testing of the scale are outlined. Method: Phase 1: Item identification using a literature review; postal survey of stakeholders (n = 320), 20 nurse interviews; four nurse focus groups; five telephone interviews with people with MS. Phase 2: Refinement of draft scale and establishing face and content validity testing using an expert panel. Phase 3: Testing of draft scale using data from a postal survey (n = 47 MS specialist nurses) to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of scale, internal consistency and construct validity. Test–retest reliability was assessed using data from 17 MS specialist nurse respondents to calculate intra-class correlation coefficients. Results: The data from the different study phases informed scale refinement. The validity and reliability of the scale was confirmed through testing. Conclusion: The study provides an example of how a robust learning needs assessment scale may be developed for a specialist area of nursing practice to be used in conjunction with more subjective approaches. Relevance to clinical practice. High quality nursing care depends upon a competent nursing workforce that engages in continuing professional development. This study provides an example of a psychometrically developed learning needs assessment scale to inform continuing professional development needs of nurses working in a specialist area of practice.

U2 - 10.1111/j.1365-2702.2007.01693.x

DO - 10.1111/j.1365-2702.2007.01693.x

M3 - Article

VL - 16

SP - 1099

EP - 1108

JO - Journal of Clinical Nursing

JF - Journal of Clinical Nursing

IS - 6

ER -