Abstract
Purpose: This research examined the reliability and validity of the Nursing Management Minimum Data Set in Japan, version1 (NMMDS1), which was developed for nurse managers as a practical self evaluation index.
Method: The NMMDS1 questionnaire mail survey was conducted from July to October, 2006. Analyzed were data based on 1762 responses (43% response rate) obtained from nurse managers of 579 Japanese hospitals. To examine the internal consistency of NMMDS1, alpha coefficients were computed. Principal component analysis was also performed for the 7 items in each of 6 categories. Messick's unified concept of validity was used as a basis to examine the validity aspects of contents, structure, and constructs of the NMMDS1.
Results: Alpha coefficients of reliability for the categories ranged from 0.37–0.82. When the items with low principal component loadings were deleted, alpha coefficient of reliability rose to 0.4–0.82. Evidence for construct validity were obtained from the three above-mentioned aspects. The proof of content aspect was accomplished by a pool of experts; structural aspect was examined by computing correlation coefficients between categories and they ranged from 0.39–0.71. The external aspect of construct validity gained proof by calculating the relationships between the NMMDS1 score and the years of experience as nurse managers, the size of hospitals, and the experience of taking examination by JCQHC.
Conclusion: NMMDS1 was developed as an index for nurse managers' self evaluation index. There were items with low factor loading and the categories with low internal consistency. We will continue further examination to raise the accuracy, and it will be considered to be a useful index for nurse managers' professional practice.
