Competency Model of Physical Therapists in China: An Exploratory Research / 中国康复理论与实践

Objective:To construct the competency model of physical therapists in China. Methods:A set of physical therapists' competency elements was established based on literature review and expert interviews. A questionnaire was designed based on the set, and 641 rehabilitation practitioners were investigated (521 valid questionnaires returned) with the questionnaire. Exploration factor analysis was used to construct the competency model of physical therapists, and confirmatory factor analysis was used to confirmed. Results:The set of physical therapists' competency elements included 74 elements in four dimensions. There were 44 competency elements in the competency model of physical therapists, including five dimensions that were Professionalism and Moral Conduct, Knowledge and Skills of Evaluation and Intervention, Abilities of Educational-Research and Advocate, Abilities of Cooperation and Management, and Basic Knowledge of Discipline, covering 74.41% of the total variance. The Cronbach's α coefficient of the whole questionnaire and each dimension was more than 0.8. Model fitness indexes of confirmatory factor analysis were as follow: χ2/df = 2.340, Root Mean Square Error of Approximation = 0.060, Goodness of Fit Index = 0.746, Normed Fit Index = 0.811, Incremental Fit Index = 0.850, Comparative Fit Index = 0.850. Conclusion:The competency model can provide a basis for physical therapists to become independent occupation, as well as for the education, selection, evaluation of physical therapists in China.

Psychometric testing of an instrument measuring nurse aides' patient safety attitudes.

AIM: To develop and test the patient safety attitude scale-nurse aide (PSAS-NA) scale in measuring nurse aides' attitudes to patient safety and event reporting. BACKGROUND: Although nurse aides are unlicensed personnel, their roles in delivering care can not be ignored. A measure specific to nurse aides is needed. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional design study. A literature review was conducted to generate items. Content validity, construct validity, convergent/divergent validity and internal consistency were examined. A convenient sample of 213 nurse aides working at two hospital-based long-term care institutions in Taiwan was recruited. RESULTS: From the initial 61-item scale, a 39-item instrument was retained by principal component analysis (PCA) and four factors were extracted: daily safety practice, organizational safety strategies, event reporting practice and event reporting conflict. Four factors accounted for 51.74% of the total variance. Cronbach's alpha ranged from 0.83 to 0.92. Event reporting conflict was significantly negatively correlated with event reporting practice (r = -0.16, P < 0.05). IMPLICATION FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: The PSAS-NA can be used to assess nurse aides' attitudes to patient safety and event reporting. Health care mangers/supervisors can provide education and training programmes to nurse aides according to the assessment results.