Development of the psychiatric nursing course evaluation form and a validity-reliability study

INTRODUCTION: The aim of the study is to develop the evaluation form for the psychiatric nursing course and to examine its validity and reliability.
METHODS: The methodologically designed study involved 272 undergraduate nursing students voluntarily participating in the theory and practice of psychiatric nursing course, out of a total enrollment of 375 students, during the period from April to July 2021. Data were collected through the “descriptive ınformation form” and “psychiatric nursing course evaluation form” (PNCEF) developed by the researchers. The data analysis employed SPSS-25 and AMOS-21 software packages. In the validity evaluation of the scale, content validity, construct validity, in reliability evaluation, internal consistency analyzes were performed.
RESULTS: 80.5% of the students were women, 76.1% of them took the theory of psychiatric nursing, 81.3% of them took the practice online (remotely), and only 28.7% of them stated that they gave nursing care to an individual with a psychiatric disorder. After the candidate items (57 items) of the PNCEF were evaluated by experts, 9 items were removed and the content validity index (CGI ) of the items was found to be 0.91. In construct validity evaluation, the form was factorable (Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin=0.974), the scale confirmed the single-factor structure according to explanatory factor analysis, and factor loads were between 0.67 and 0.86. Split half Spearman-Brown reliability coefficient was 0.956. Internal consistency Cronbach’s alpha reliability coefficient was 0.986 and 0.986. Item test correlation values were found to be between 0.546 and 0.840. As a result of the fit analysis, it was calculated as CFI=0.849, TLI=0.839, RMSEA=0.095, and Chi-square/df=3.452.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Following meticulous analyses, the conclusive version of the 43-item form demonstrated robust content and construct validity, quasi-test reliability, and internal consistency measured by Cronbach’s alpha. These findings affirm the form’s status as a valid and reliable instrument, adept at assessing student nurses’ perceptions within the undergraduate program concerning both theoretical and practical accomplishments in the mental health and psychiatric nursing course.