TY - JOUR
T1 - Development of an instrument to measure the attitudes and skills of undergraduate nursing students in caring for family caregivers
T2 - An international multi-method study
AU - Longhini, Jessica
AU - Kabir, Zarina Nahar
AU - Waldréus, Nana
AU - Konradsen, Hanne
AU - Bove, Dorthe Gaby
AU - Léniz, Asier
AU - Calle, Maria Dolores
AU - Urien, Elena De Lorenzo
AU - Bhardwaj, Pankaj
AU - Sharma, Suresh
AU - Ambrosi, Elisa
AU - Canzan, Federica
PY - 2025/8
Y1 - 2025/8
N2 - Background: The increasing demands on family caregivers due to the shortage of healthcare professionals and the rising prevalence of chronic conditions underscore the need for adequate nursing support to enhance family caregivers' abilities and reduce their burden. No instrument exists to measure undergraduate nursing students' attitudes and skills in involving family caregivers. This study aimed to develop a questionnaire to evaluate undergraduate nursing students' attitudes and skills in caring for family caregivers. Methods: A three-phase multi-method study was conducted involving a consortium of five universities in Italy, Denmark, India, Spain, and Sweden. Theoretical models and literature analysis and review informed initial item generation. Then, a Delphi process with purposefully selected international experts across three rounds refined the item list based on clarity, essentiality, and relevance, achieving consensus on a final set of items. Finally, pilot testing with purposefully selected 25 students assessed face validity and clarity. Results: The preliminary phase led to 130 items. Delphi rounds reduced the initial 130 items to a refined set of 39 (13 items on attitudes, 26 on skills). Content Validity Index (CVI) scores for clarity and relevance were high (S-CVI/Ave = 0.93 for clarity, 1.0 for relevance). From the pilot test among 25 students, items scored an average clarity of 0.84 (I-CVI). Two items were removed, resulting in a final 37-item questionnaire (12 attitudes, 25 skills). Discussion: The developed questionnaire bridges a gap in nursing education assessment. Emphasizing attitudes and skills, it addresses key areas such as understanding family dynamics, emotional support, and collaborative planning with caregivers, aligning with nursing education needs across diverse cultural contexts. The use of this instrument will support educational programs in enhancing family-centered care competencies of undergraduate nursing students, ultimately improving support for family caregivers in healthcare settings.
AB - Background: The increasing demands on family caregivers due to the shortage of healthcare professionals and the rising prevalence of chronic conditions underscore the need for adequate nursing support to enhance family caregivers' abilities and reduce their burden. No instrument exists to measure undergraduate nursing students' attitudes and skills in involving family caregivers. This study aimed to develop a questionnaire to evaluate undergraduate nursing students' attitudes and skills in caring for family caregivers. Methods: A three-phase multi-method study was conducted involving a consortium of five universities in Italy, Denmark, India, Spain, and Sweden. Theoretical models and literature analysis and review informed initial item generation. Then, a Delphi process with purposefully selected international experts across three rounds refined the item list based on clarity, essentiality, and relevance, achieving consensus on a final set of items. Finally, pilot testing with purposefully selected 25 students assessed face validity and clarity. Results: The preliminary phase led to 130 items. Delphi rounds reduced the initial 130 items to a refined set of 39 (13 items on attitudes, 26 on skills). Content Validity Index (CVI) scores for clarity and relevance were high (S-CVI/Ave = 0.93 for clarity, 1.0 for relevance). From the pilot test among 25 students, items scored an average clarity of 0.84 (I-CVI). Two items were removed, resulting in a final 37-item questionnaire (12 attitudes, 25 skills). Discussion: The developed questionnaire bridges a gap in nursing education assessment. Emphasizing attitudes and skills, it addresses key areas such as understanding family dynamics, emotional support, and collaborative planning with caregivers, aligning with nursing education needs across diverse cultural contexts. The use of this instrument will support educational programs in enhancing family-centered care competencies of undergraduate nursing students, ultimately improving support for family caregivers in healthcare settings.
KW - Attitudes
KW - Caring
KW - Development
KW - Family caregivers
KW - Instrument
KW - Skills
KW - Undergraduate nursing students
KW - Attitudes
KW - Caring
KW - Development
KW - Family caregivers
KW - Instrument
KW - Skills
KW - Undergraduate nursing students
U2 - 10.1016/j.nedt.2025.106738
DO - 10.1016/j.nedt.2025.106738
M3 - Journal article
AN - SCOPUS:105002589253
SN - 0260-6917
VL - 151
JO - Nurse Education Today
JF - Nurse Education Today
M1 - 106738
ER -