Original Article
Development and Reliability and Validity Testing of a Risk Sensitivity Scale for Nursing Students
2015 Volume 24 Issue 3 Pages 13-25
Details
2015 Volume 24 Issue 3 Pages 13-25
〔Purpose〕We developed a scale for measuring risk sensitivity in nursing students and tested the reliability and validity of the scale.
〔Methods〕A primary survey was performed with a questionnaire originally created based on the literature and the results were used to create a preliminary risk sensitivity scale （44 items）. A questionnaire survey including external reference scale items was then administered to 774 first to fourth year students enrolled in a nursing college. The responses from 602 students were subject to exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis.
〔Results〕A high goodness of fit value was attained for a nursing student risk sensitivity model comprised of 25 items in six subscales：［ability to execute safety acts］, ［ability to use risk experiences］, ［ability to acquire risk information］, ［risk avoidance preparedness］, ［risk response preparedness］ and ［risk detecting and monitoring ability］. Cronbach’s α coefficient for the scale was 0.93. Analysis of correlation between risk sensitivity score and the external reference scales showed a moderate positive correlation with the two subscale scores, “interest in safety” and “safety consideration”, of a safety awareness scale, with r＝0.5 （p＜0.01）. A weak positive correlation was observed with the Need for Cognition Scale, with r＝0.2−0.3 （p＜0.01） and a weak negative correlation was observed between the “impulsive errors” subscale of the error proneness scale and the ［ability to execute safety acts］ subscale, with r＝−0.23 （p＜0.01）.
〔Discussion〕We confirmed the internal consistency and construct validity of the developed scale, although the criterion-related validity has yet to be determined. The developed scale can be used by nursing students to self-assess their own risk sensitivity prior to the start of practical training so that they can set the necessary study goals to act safely and attain a state of preparedness for practical training.
