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Design and Psychometric Evaluation of a Instrument for Assessing Nursing Students’ skill in the Preparation of Cytotoxic Medication
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Khatereh Rostami   |
| Shiraz University of Medical Sciences |
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Abstract: (15 Views) |
Introduction: Cancer is a major public health challenge, and anticancer drugs, particularly cytotoxic agents, play a crucial role in patient treatment. The toxic nature of these drugs poses significant risks to nurses and nursing students, necessitating practical skills and strict adherence to safety protocols. This study aimed to design and psychometrically validate a culturally adapted Instrument to assess nursing students’ competencies in the safe preparation of cytotoxic drugs.
Methods: This sequential mixed-methods study (qualitative–quantitative) was conducted in 2024 at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. In the qualitative phase, 27 semi-structured interviews were conducted with nursing students, faculty members, and oncology nurses to identify the dimensions of competency. In the quantitative phase, an initial 20-item instrument was developed and refined through assessments of face, content, and construct validity. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were performed to examine the Instrument’s factor structure. Reliability was assessed using internal consistency and the test–retest method.
Results: The final instrument consisted of 18 items across three dimensions: “Preparation and Dilution Skills,” “Compliance with Individual and Environmental Safety Measures,” and “Waste Management and Emergency Response.” The Instrument demonstrated excellent content and construct validity, with adequate reliability (Cronbach’s alpha > 0.60, test-retest correlation = 0.80). The three-factor model explained 68.45% of the total variance, and confirmatory factor analysis indices indicated a good model fit.
Conclusion: The developed Instrument is reliable and valid, providing a comprehensive assessment of nursing students’ practical skills in the safe preparation of cytotoxic drugs. Its application can help identify competency gaps, guide the development of targeted educational interventions, and ultimately enhance patient and healthcare worker safety.
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| Keywords: Antineoplastic Agents, Drug Compounding, Students, Nursing, Nursing education, psychometrics |
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Full-Text [PDF 337 kb]
(11 Downloads)
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Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
General
Received: 2025/11/10 | Accepted: 2026/06/2 | Published: 2024/04/29
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