Validity and reliability of positive attitudes toward and perceived importance of wearable display technology as an effective learning tool among nursing students

Abstract

Aim: This study aims to verify the validity and reliability of two separate instruments used for measuring nursing students' positive attitudes toward and perceived importance of wearable display technology as an effective learning tool.

Background: Healthcare professionals and undergraduates, including nursing students, use wearable display technologies, such as smart glasses and head-mounted displays, as learning tools. However, the validation of the instruments used to evaluate the perception of such use is insufficient.

Design: This methodological study assessed an instrument used to measure nursing students' positive attitudes toward and perceived importance of wearable display technology.

Methods: In total, 284 students from eight universities in six regions across South Korea participated in this study. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS/WIN 25.0 and Amos 22.0. The construct validity (exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis and group comparison) and reliability (internal consistency) were analyzed.

Results: Three factors and thirteen items related to positive attitudes toward wearable displays were extracted through exploratory factor analysis, with a cumulative explanatory power of 66.22%. One factor and six items were extracted, with an explanatory power of 74.61% for the perceived importance of the wearable display subscale. In the group comparison, differences in the positive attitudes toward and perceived importance of wearable display technology were observed according to the level of satisfaction with college life, level of satisfaction with the nursing major, whether the participants owned a wearable display and whether they would consider purchasing a wearable display. Each factor loading was adequate, according to the confirmatory factor analysis results. Cronbach's α for positive attitudes toward wearable displays was.79, while that for perceived importance of wearable displays was.93.

Conclusion: The developed instrument can be used to evaluate nursing students' positive attitudes toward and perceived importance of wearable display technology as an effective learning tool in the future. This study can serve as a basis for developing and applying wearable display technologies in nursing education.

Keywords: Attitude; Education; Learning; Nursing; Perception; Psychological test; Technology.