Liyuan Cui1,2, Yaxin Zhu1, Jinglou Qu1,3, Liming Tie1,4, Ziqi Wang1, Bo Qu5. 1. Institute for International Health Professions Education and Research, China Medical University, Shenyang, 110122, China. 2. China Medical University Library, China Medical University, Shenyang, 110122, China. 3. Department of Postgraduate Administration, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110122, China. 4. The Third Clinical Department, China Medical University, Shenyang, 110122, China. 5. Institute for International Health Professions Education and Research, China Medical University, Shenyang, 110122, China. qubo6666@163.com.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Critical thinking disposition helps medical students and professionals overcome the effects of personal values and beliefs when exercising clinical judgment. The lack of effective instruments to measure critical thinking disposition in medical students has become an obstacle for training and evaluating students in undergraduate programs in China. The aim of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the CTDA test. METHODS: A total of 278 students participated in this study and responded to the CTDA test. Cronbach's α coefficient, internal consistency, test-retest reliability, floor effects and ceiling effects were measured to assess the reliability of the questionnaire. Construct validity of the pre-specified three-domain structure of the CTDA was evaluated by explanatory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The convergent validity and discriminant validity were also analyzed. RESULTS: Cronbach's alpha coefficient for the entire questionnaire was calculated to be 0.92, all of the domains showed acceptable internal consistency (0.81-0.86), and the test-retest reliability indicated acceptable intra-class correlation coefficients (ICCs) (0.93, p < 0.01). The EFA and the CFA demonstrated that the three-domain model fitted the data adequately. The test showed satisfactory convergent and discriminant validity. CONCLUSIONS: The CTDA is a reliable and valid questionnaire to evaluate the disposition of medical students towards critical thinking in China and can reasonably be applied in critical thinking programs and medical education research.
BACKGROUND: Critical thinking disposition helps medical students and professionals overcome the effects of personal values and beliefs when exercising clinical judgment. The lack of effective instruments to measure critical thinking disposition in medical students has become an obstacle for training and evaluating students in undergraduate programs in China. The aim of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the CTDA test. METHODS: A total of 278 students participated in this study and responded to the CTDA test. Cronbach's α coefficient, internal consistency, test-retest reliability, floor effects and ceiling effects were measured to assess the reliability of the questionnaire. Construct validity of the pre-specified three-domain structure of the CTDA was evaluated by explanatory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The convergent validity and discriminant validity were also analyzed. RESULTS: Cronbach's alpha coefficient for the entire questionnaire was calculated to be 0.92, all of the domains showed acceptable internal consistency (0.81-0.86), and the test-retest reliability indicated acceptable intra-class correlation coefficients (ICCs) (0.93, p < 0.01). The EFA and the CFA demonstrated that the three-domain model fitted the data adequately. The test showed satisfactory convergent and discriminant validity. CONCLUSIONS: The CTDA is a reliable and valid questionnaire to evaluate the disposition of medical students towards critical thinking in China and can reasonably be applied in critical thinking programs and medical education research.
Authors: Esperanza Zuriguel-Pérez; Anna Falcó-Pegueroles; Juan Roldán-Merino; Sandra Agustino-Rodriguez; Maria Del Carmen Gómez-Martín; Maria Teresa Lluch-Canut Journal: Worldviews Evid Based Nurs Date: 2017-03-09 Impact factor: 2.931