Critical thinking level in nursing degree students according tosociodemographic and academic variables: A correlational study

Aims To determine the level of critical thinking of undergraduate nursing students during their clinical practice, as well as to identify the relationship between sociodemographic and academic variables. Background Nursing degree programs should prioritize the development of critical thinking skills...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Basco Prado, Luis, Biurrun Garrido, Ainoa, Zuriguel Pérez, Esperanza, Roldán Merino, Juan Francisco, Mestres i Soler, Olga
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión aceptada para publicación
Fecha de publicación:2024
País:España
Institución:Varias* (Consorci de Biblioteques Universitáries de Catalunya, Centre de Serveis Científics i Acadèmics de Catalunya)
Repositorio:Recercat. Dipósit de la Recerca de Catalunya
OAI Identifier:oai:recercat.cat:2445/228147
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/2445/228147
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Ensenyament de la infermeria
Presa de decisions
Pensament crític
Nursing education
Decision making
Critical thinking
Descripción
Sumario:Aims To determine the level of critical thinking of undergraduate nursing students during their clinical practice, as well as to identify the relationship between sociodemographic and academic variables. Background Nursing degree programs should prioritize the development of critical thinking skills in their curriculum and regularly assess students to ensure the acquisition of core competencies. Design Multicenter, descriptive, cross-sectional, correlational, descriptive study. Participants included were students from the Degree in Nursing enrolled during the academic year 2020–2021. Students were selected by convenience from three universities located in Catalonia, Spain. Data were collected from 429 students, with 98 being excluded due to incomplete data. Methods Data were collected by administering the Nursing Critical Thinking in Students Questionnaire and an ad hoc form of sociodemographic and academic characteristics. The STROBE guidelines checklist were followed. The study involves a secondary analysis of data from a previous study that presented psychometric analysis. Results No significant differences were observed in total Critical Thinking scores across various parameters including academic year, current situation, work experience in healthcare, previous academic training, family situation, or recent stressful events. On average, students demonstrated moderate critical thinking scores. However, statistically significant relationships emerged between critical thinking scores and gender (p=0.046), institution attended for undergraduate studies (p=0.019) and having satisfactory social relationships despite experiencing stressful events (p=0.330). Conclusions The study delves into the correlation between critical thinking skills and sociodemographic and academic factors, identifying students who may benefit from specific interventions and advocating for adaptable educational methods. It emphasizes the pivotal role of trust in fostering critical thinking in nursing education and suggests a connection between critical thinking and strong social relationships. In conclusion, evaluating critical thinking is crucial for addressing healthcare challenges, validating teaching strategies and promoting continuous improvement in nursing education.