Abstract
The purpose of this study was to develop and refine a self-assessment tool for a nursing group's evaluation of the process of nursing care. We expect this study influence the improvement of measurement of nursing care quality and thus the dissemination of quality assessment data from hospitals.
To develop a self-assessment tool, two methods were used. One was a method of testing validity based on the consistency between the results of self-assessment and assessment by a third party by using QI program. The other was a method of obtaining opinions on the self-assessment tool at a focus group interview with nurses. The self-assessment tool was initially developed based on the QI program.
Five nurses, one from each of five hospitals, completed the Nursing Care Quality Process Self-Assessment Tool (NCQPSAT). The researchers assessed nursing care by the same five nurses using the QI program. NCQPSAT scores were higher than QI program score in four out of five nurses. The results were more similar in self-assessment questions where nurses made a choice from a list of evaluations and described the details and the researcher made a judgment for scoring.
Fourteen nurses, who were not assessed in the comparison, participated in the focus group interviews. They were asked to respond about the design, usefulness, and comprehensibility of the NCQPSAT. As a result, the following five points were identified as items to be refined in NCQPSAT: (1) Specify the relevant time period for self assessment. (2) Consider inclusion of an explanation of the intent of the questions. (3) Ensure that each question includes only one content area. (4) Rewrite choices to avoid overlapping answers. (5) Reduce the time needed for complication of the NCQPSAT.
