Construction and Validity of a Simulated Scenario-Checklist for the Assessment and Identification of Shockable Arrhythmias: A Methodological Study

Abstract

Objective: to construct and validate a simulated scenario and checklist for the assessment and identification of shockable arrhythmias by nurses in adults hospitalized in an Intensive Care Unit. Method: this is a methodological study for the construction of a simulated scenario and checklist, validated by experts, with the application of a pilot test on 36 nursing students between April and September 2021, at a public university in Minas Gerais. The construction stage took place by surveying evidence in the literature. The validity stage was based on instrument assessment by 13 experts, from all over Brazil, being interpreted by calculating the Content Validity Coefficient by a cut-off point equal to 0.8 or 80.0%. To assess internal consistency, Cronbach’s alpha was calculated. Subsequently, a pilot test and the Student Satisfaction and Self-Confidence in Learning Scale were applied. Results: after building the simulated scenario, three rounds were performed to assess the script (21 items) and two for the checklist (six items), reaching an overall Content Validity Coefficient of 0.98 and 0.95, respectively. A Cronbach’s alpha of 0.79 was obtained at the end of assessment. In the pilot test, the scenario was considered adequate, with high scores of satisfaction and self-confidence in learning, confirming its usability. Conclusion: the instrument developed by nurses to assess shockable arrhythmias in adult patients admitted to an Intensive Care Unit is valid in terms of content and has good internal consistency.