Nursing students' confidence in medication calculations predicts math exam performance

Nurse Educ Today. 2009 Feb;29(2):217-23. doi: 10.1016/j.nedt.2008.08.005. Epub 2008 Oct 1.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the psychometric properties, including predictive validity, of the newly-developed nursing self-efficacy for mathematics (NSE-Math). The NSE-Math is a 12 item scale that comprises items related to mathematic and arithmetic concepts underpinning medication calculations. The NSE-Math instrument was administered to second year Bachelor of Nursing students enrolled in a nursing practice subject. Students' academic results for a compulsory medication calculation examination for this subject were collected. One-hundred and twelve students (73%) completed both the NSE-Math instrument and the drug calculation assessment task. The NSE-Math demonstrated two factors 'Confidence in application of mathematic concepts to nursing practice' and 'Confidence in arithmetic concepts' with 63.5% of variance explained. Cronbach alpha for the scale was 0.90. The NSE-Math demonstrated predictive validity with the medication calculation examination results (p=0.009). Psychometric testing suggests the NSE-Math is a valid measure of mathematics self-efficacy of second year nursing students.

Publication types

  • Validation Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Drug Dosage Calculations*
  • Education, Nursing*
  • Educational Measurement / methods*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mathematics*
  • New South Wales
  • Psychometrics
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Self Efficacy*