The analysis of reliability and validity of a competency evaluation model for front-line nursing staff during the outbreak of major infectious diseases.

Abstract

Outbreaks of major infectious diseases represent a tremendous threat to people's health, safety and property, yet little is known about the competence of front-line caregivers in such situations. To construct a model for evaluating the competency of front-line nursing staff during major infectious disease outbreaks and to test the model's reliability and validity. This was a cross-sectional study that took place between November and December 2021, in Chinese hospitals. The model was constructed through literature reviews, descriptive qualitative research, the Delphi method and the analytic hierarchy process. To evaluate the model's validity and reliability, 550 front-line nurses were selected to complete a questionnaire survey, and six experts were invited to conduct a content validity evaluation. Cronbach's α coefficient was used to test the model's reliability, while an exploratory factor analysis was used to measure the structural validity of the model. The model included 57 items. The Cronbach's α coefficient of the model was 0.983, and the content validity index was 0.958. Six common factors were produced by exploratory factor analysis. The cumulative variance contribution rate was 66.718%. After discussion, the original four dimensions were maintained. The model for evaluating the competency of front-line nursing staff during an outbreak of major infectious diseases has strong reliability and validity and can be used as a tool to assess the competency level of front-line nursing staff. This model can provide a useful reference for care managers to accurately evaluate, train and select caregivers during an epidemic.