Development and validation of the simulation-based learning evaluation scale

• A valid and reliable simulation scale for simulation-based learning is valuable to nursing education.
• The Simulation-Based Learning Evaluation Scale (SBLES) consisted of 37 items in five subscales: nursing process, patient safety, professional knowledge, communication, and attitude of reflection.
• The SBLES could be used to measure different levels of nursing student competence for simulation-based learning because of the existence of its discriminating power.
• The SBLES exhibits qualified reliability and favorable convergent and discriminant validity.

BackgroundThe instruments that evaluate a student's perception of receiving simulated training are English versions and have not been tested for reliability or validity.PurposeThe aim of this study was to develop and validate a Chinese version Simulation-Based Learning Evaluation Scale (SBLES).MethodsFour stages were conducted to develop and validate the SBLES. First, specific desired competencies were identified according to the National League for Nursing and Taiwan Nursing Accreditation Council core competencies. Next, the initial item pool was comprised of 50 items related to simulation that were drawn from the literature of core competencies. Content validity was established by use of an expert panel. Finally, exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis were conducted for construct validity, and Cronbach's coefficient alpha determined the scale's internal consistency reliability. Two hundred and fifty students who had experienced simulation-based learning were invited to participate in this study.ResultsTwo hundred and twenty-five students completed and returned questionnaires (response rate = 90%). Six items were deleted from the initial item pool and one was added after an expert panel review. Exploratory factor analysis with varimax rotation revealed 37 items remaining in five factors which accounted for 67% of the variance. The construct validity of SBLES was substantiated in a confirmatory factor analysis that revealed a good fit of the hypothesized factor structure. The findings tally with the criterion of convergent and discriminant validity. The range of internal consistency for five subscales was .90 to .93. Items were rated on a 5-point scale from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree).ConclusionsThe results of this study indicate that the SBLES is valid and reliable. The authors recommend that the scale could be applied in the nursing school to evaluate the effectiveness of simulation-based learning curricula.