Professional Nursing Communication Competence: Theoretical procedures for instrument development and pilot test.

AIMS

To describe the theoretical procedures for the development of the Professional Nursing Communication Competence instrument, determine the content validity and describe the pilot test application.

BACKGROUND

Measuring instruments must be developed in accordance with the context and communication process by adopting theoretical procedures based on competence structures to support quality patient-centred care and nursing management.

METHODS

A methodological study was employed. The instrument was developed by using content-validated theoretical construct in accordance with 33 communication theories followed by semantic analysis and content validity by experts. The instrument was tested over three phases: before the lecture on professional nursing communication competence, after the simulation scenario experience and after debriefing.

RESULTS

The instrument showed an extremely high agreement (CVI = 0.99). Linear regression suggested three domains of the 46-item content-validated instrument comprising knowledge (18 items), skills (12 items) and attitudes (16 items).

CONCLUSION

The instrument was found to measure professional communication competence with a high theoretical reliability of the contexts and processes through a simulation strategy.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT

Nursing educators, managers and staff can adopt the Professional Nursing Communication Competence (IMC-CPE) instrument to improve the effectiveness level of knowledge, skills and attitudes to reduce misunderstanding among team members and health care errors.