Background: Self-efficacy is a critical element of social cognitive theory and refers to a person's estimation of their ability to complete a specific task. Self-efficacy scales evaluate the effectiveness of communication skills training programs. There were not validated scales in Spanish.
Aims: to cross-culturally adapt the Self-efficacy questionnaire-12 scale in communication skills in Spanish, evaluate its psychometric properties, and analyse the sample's descriptive characteristics.
Design: we conducted an instrumental study to develop evaluation scales.
Methods: nursing students were invited to participate (N = 387). The inclusion criteria were: (1) enrolment in first or fourth academic course year; (2) not having received specific training in communication skills; and (3) understanding written and spoken Spanish fluently. A total of 334 undergraduates participated (86.3% response rate); their mean age was 21.9 years (SD = 5.8), 83.2% were female.
Results: data showed high internal consistency (0.94) and a good fit to the model. The overall instrument score correlated with the attitude towards communication skills (r = 0.20; p < 0.001). Moderate communication self-efficacy scores were observed in these nursing students.
Impact statement: Evaluating communication skills through self-efficacy scales allows teachers to know each student's perceived proficiency to handle communication with users safely and to understand users' needs, giving information about aspects to improve and to establish effective institutional strategies as one of the inherent characteristics of the concept of skills-based evaluation.
Conclusions: The Spanish version of the Self-efficacy questionnaire-12 in communication skills was a valid and reliable instrument, essential for evaluating the perceived self-efficacy towards communication in nursing.
Keywords: communication; nursing education; psychometric validation; scale.