Psychometric Evaluation of the Canadian Nurse Informatics Competency Assessment and the Digital Technology Self Efficacy Scales among Saudi Nursing Students: Cross Sectional Study
ABSTRACT
Background:
The integration of digital health technologies is transforming nursing education, necessitating reliable assessment of informatics competency and digital self-efficacy among students. In Saudi Arabia, aligned with Vision 2030, there is a pressing need to validate such psychometric instruments to support evidence-based curriculum reforms and workforce modernization.
Objective:
The study aims to fill a gap by providing empirical data on the reliability and validity of the Canadian Nursing Informatics Competency Assessment Scale (C-NICAS) and the Digital Technology Self-Efficacy (DT-SE) scale for undergraduate nursing students in Saudi Arabia.
Methods:
A descriptive cross-sectional design was used to evaluate the C-NICAS and the DT-SE scale among 243 undergraduate nursing students at the University of Hail. Data were collected via online surveys, and analyses were performed using reliability testing and exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses.
Results:
Both C-NICAS and DT-SE exhibited strong internal consistency, with Cronbach’s alpha values of 0.70–0.90 for the C-NICAS domains and 0.80 for DT-SE. Factor analysis substantiated the multidimensional structures of both tools. Although C-NICAS demonstrated a good model fit, the DT-SE fit indices suggested areas for further scale refinement. The sample reported moderate levels of informatics competency and digital self-efficacy, with stronger foundational skills than advanced digital readiness.
Conclusions:
The validated C-NICAS and DT-SE are suitable for reliably measuring informatics competency and digital self-efficacy among Saudi nursing students. The findings highlight moderate digital readiness, underscoring the need for enhanced curricular integration of advanced digital skills and simulation-based learning. The adoption of these validated tools will enable a more informed educational policy and practice, aiding the national goal of developing a digitally proficient nursing workforce for Saudi Vision 2030. Clinical Trial: Not Applicable for cross sectional study
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