Validity and reliability of the evaluation tool of TCM confidence in students with TCM learning experience

Abstract Objective This study aimed to design an evaluation scale of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) confidence and then evaluate its validity and reliability. Methods Three parallel samples with TCM learning experience were included in this current study. Randomly selected 500 nursing students were included factor analysis and reliability and validity analyses. After 4 weeks, 200 nursing students were recruited to retest the reliability. The evaluation tool of TCM confidence included 6 dimensions and 25 entries. Results Cronbach’s α coefficient of the evaluation scale was 0.95 and that of the 6 observed aspects were higher than 0.90, and split-half reliability was 0.81. For the retest reliability, Cronbach’s α coefficient of the evaluation scale was 0.93 and that of the 6 examined aspects was all over 0.80. The index of content validity Scale Content Validity Index (S-CVI) was 0.92 and Item Content Validity Index (I-CVI) was 0.83–1.00. Conclusions Observed results may indicate that the designed tool can be used to assess the TCM confidence level of students with TCM studied experience and also can evaluate results of TCM education during studying TCM lectures.